Back / lumbar spine decisions — 2012

The Veteran is seeking service connection for a back disability that he claims was caused by an injury sustained while working under the Compensation Work Program / Veterans Industries Program (VIP). The VA has not obtained all relevant medical records, including those from Dr. P. and his employer during the time of the claimed injury.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's cervical and lumbar spine disabilities are not related to service, and thus denied his claims for service connection.

The Veteran's claims for memory problems, diabetes mellitus type II, left ankle injury, and disability exhibited by numbness and cramps in the lower extremities were denied as they are not related to service or service-connected conditions.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for further development due to outstanding private treatment records and additional VA examinations are needed.

The Veteran has withdrawn his appeals for increased ratings for his low back and left knee disabilities and service connection for a right knee disability.

The Board has remanded the case due to inadequate medical nexus opinion regarding the nature and etiology of the Veteran's current lumbar and cervical spine disorders.

The Board finds that the Veteran's current low back disorder is not related to his military service and thus denies his claim for service connection.

The Veteran's lumbar spine disability is found to be caused or aggravated by his service-connected left ankle and bilateral knee disabilities, resulting in an altered gait.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for a low back disorder, finding that new and material evidence has not been received. The TDIU claim was also denied as there is no single disability rated at 100% or more combined with another disability rating of at least 40%.

Prior to May 6, 2008, the Veteran's degenerative arthritis of the lumbar spine warranted a rating of 40 percent.,From May 6, 2008, to April 26, 2011, the Veteran's disability was rated at 20 percent.,Since April 27, 2011, the Veteran's degenerative arthritis of the lumbar spine warranted a rating of 40 percent.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded due to the need for further development regarding service connection for degenerative disc disease of the lumbar spine and a higher rating for lumbar strain.

The Board found that the Veteran's claimed disabilities are not related to his military service and denied each claim.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, a back disability, bilateral hearing loss, and tinnitus. The evidence did not establish that these conditions were incurred or aggravated by military service.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's right hip and right knee disabilities, including as secondary to service-connected low back disability, are not related to his military service. Additionally, the Veteran's cervical spine disability is found to be unrelated to service.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for a low back disability is being remanded due to the need to obtain additional medical records and provide an opinion on the etiology of his current low back disability.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims due to a need for additional development and hearing.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not meet the criteria for eligibility for automobile and adaptive equipment or adaptive equipment only due to lack of loss or permanent loss of use of one or both feet, hands, vision, or ankylosis.

The Veteran's low back strain and radiculopathy of the left lower extremity have been granted increased evaluations, with the low back strain receiving a 20% rating.

The Board has granted a reopening of the claim for service connection for a lower back disorder, but the underlying issue is addressed in the REMAND portion of this decision and is being remanded to the RO.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's low back disability and left foot numbness are related to his military service, granting service connection for both conditions.