Back / lumbar spine decisions — 2013

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining VA treatment records and scheduling the Veteran for VA examinations to assess his service-connected low back strain with degenerative disc disease and scoliosis, residuals of right ankle fracture with decreased range of motion and scar, and left thigh meralgia paresthetica.

The Veteran's claims for service connection of low back disability and PTSD, as well as increased ratings for left shoulder strain and right shoulder tendinitis were all denied.

The Veteran's petition to reopen service connection for a lumbar spine disorder has been granted. The Board is bifurcating the issue into two separate issues: direct service connection and secondary service connection based on service-connected bunionectomies of the feet. The Veteran's depressive disorder claim remains pending.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims of service connection for hearing loss, back disability, and cervical spine disability. The Board found no evidence to support a current disability or link between any claimed conditions and service.

The Veteran's sinus condition, diagnosed as rhinitis, had its onset in service and the Board has granted service connection for this disability. The claims for low back disorder, right ear hearing loss, and right knee disorder are remanded for further development.

The Veteran's initial rating for degenerative disc disease of the lumbar spine was increased to 20 percent effective September 9, 2010. The Veteran's hemorrhoids were rated as non-compensable prior to November 19, 2012 and now rated at 10 percent.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims due to the need for additional examinations and evaluations of his service-connected conditions, as well as clarification on periods of active duty.

The Veteran's low back condition has not improved, and the Board grants restoration of a 40 percent disability rating for lumbar spine intervertebral disc syndrome.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded for a new VA examination to assess the current severity of his service-connected low back disability with radiculopathy, and consideration of whether separate evaluations are warranted for any associated radiculopathy or bowel/bladder impairment.

The Veteran's right ear hearing loss disability is granted as incurred in service. The Board found the evidence to be at least in equipoise and thus granted service connection for this condition.

The Board found that the Veteran does not have a low back or right hip disability due to disease or injury which was incurred in or aggravated by military service, nor is any claimed disability proximately due to or aggravated by his service-connected bilateral patella chondromalacia.

The Board has determined that additional development is needed to properly adjudicate the Veteran's claims, including obtaining medical opinions regarding his right knee disorder and breathing disorder. The case will be remanded for these purposes.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development to determine the current severity of his service-connected cervical spine degenerative disc disease and whether he requires regular aid and attendance or at the housebound rate.

The Board has granted service connection for a lumbar spine spondylolysis, finding that the Veteran's current condition is likely due to disease or injury incurred in active service.

The Board found that the Veteran's current back disability did not manifest during service and is not otherwise related to his military service, thus denying his claim for service connection.

The Board denied service connection for status-post L4-L5 hemilaminectomy and discectomy with radicular symptoms, DDD and lumbar scoliosis. The Veteran's upper back pain was also denied.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not render him unable to obtain and retain substantially gainful employment.

The Board found that the Veteran's right knee and right hip disabilities were not incurred in or aggravated by service, and thus denied these claims. The low back disability was remanded due to insufficient evidence.

The Veteran's initial claim for a higher rating for his service-connected low back disability was denied prior to November 1, 2007.,From November 1, 2007 onwards, the Veteran's claim for an increased evaluation of his low back disability was also denied.

The Veteran's lumbosacral spine disorder was rated at 20 percent prior to February 12, 2009 and increased to 40 percent since July 1, 2009. The rating is mixed as some issues were granted while others were denied.