Back / lumbar spine decisions — 2013

The Board found that the Veteran's low back disability and bone spurs of the spine were not incurred or aggravated by active duty service. The claims are denied.

The Veteran's claim for increased ratings for degenerative disc disease of the lumbar spine was denied. The Board found that prior to July 2, 2009, his disability did not meet the criteria for a rating in excess of 10 percent and since then, it has not met the criteria for a rating in excess of 20 percent.

The Board found that the Veteran's current lumbar spine disorder is not related to service and denied his claim for service connection. The bilateral leg condition was also denied as it was determined to be unrelated to a service-connected disability.

The Board has ordered a remand due to the need for additional development, including obtaining VA Medical Center treatment records and scheduling an examination. The Veteran's claim of service connection for a low back disability is currently before the Board.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for decreased libido, claimed as secondary to his service-connected spina bifida occulta with mechanical low back pain, is being remanded due to the need for additional development and an examination.

The Veteran's service-connected low back disability has been rated at 40 percent effective January 9, 2013. The Board found that the evidence did not support a higher rating before this date.

The Veteran's appeal has been dismissed as he withdrew his claims in a written statement.

The Veteran's POEMS syndrome and lumbar spine degenerative disc disease with erectile dysfunction are service-connected, and he is currently rated at the highest available disability rating for these conditions.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for diabetes mellitus, left knee disorder, lower back disorder (claimed as due to a left knee disorder), and PTSD was granted. The effective date of the 100% disability rating for PTSD is October 23, 1998.

The appellant's combined rating is 70 percent with one disabilities rated at 50 percent. The objective and credible medical and other evidence of record preponderates against a finding that the appellant is permanently and totally disabled due to his non-service-connected disabilities.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings were denied. The cervical spine was rated as 10 percent prior to April 22, 2009 and as 20 percent thereafter. The lumbar spine was rated as 10 percent prior to April 22, 2009 and as 40 percent from April 22, 2009 to September 23, 2010.

The Veteran's cervical and lumbar spine disabilities have been rated as 10 percent disabling, but the evidence does not support a higher rating based on current functional impairment.

The Veteran's claim for an increased rating for his service-connected residuals of compression fractures, T4-T7, with degenerative disc disease is being remanded due to incomplete records and the need for a more contemporaneous examination.

The Board has determined that a remand is necessary to obtain additional medical opinions and to ensure all pertinent records are considered in the adjudication of the Veteran's claims for service connection for cervical and lumbar spine disorders.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's claims for increased ratings for his degenerative joint disease of the lumbar spine and cervical spine have been denied as they do not meet the criteria for a higher rating under the applicable VA rating schedule.

The Veteran's claims for increased evaluations for his lumbar and cervical spine disabilities were denied. The VA determined that the Veteran's conditions did not meet criteria for a higher evaluation based on the severity of his symptoms.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded due to his failure to report for a scheduled hearing and because he has presented good cause for missing the hearing. The case will be returned to the Board after scheduling another hearing at the RO.

The Board has ordered a remand to obtain additional medical records and conduct further examination. The Veteran's low back condition is being considered for service connection as secondary to his service-connected bilateral pes planus.

The Board found that the Veteran's cervical and lumbar spine disorders are not related to his period of honorable active service, and thus denied service connection for these conditions.

The Veteran's claims for higher initial ratings for cervical spine disability, lumbar spine disability, and excisions of basal cell carcinoma were denied.,Higher initial ratings were not granted for the Veteran's cervical spine disability, lumbar spine disability, or excisions of basal cell carcinoma.