Back / lumbar spine decisions — 2013

The Veteran's service-connected low back disability has been granted a staged rating of 10 percent prior to December 20, 2011 and 20 percent from that date.

The Veteran's claims for higher initial ratings for chronic right ankle strain and chronic lumbar strain have been denied as the evidence does not support a rating in excess of 10 percent.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's low back disorder is not related to service and denied his claim for service connection.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining updated VA treatment records and a Social and Industrial Survey to determine his employability given his service-connected disabilities.

The Board found that the Veteran's back and right knee disabilities did not begin in service or until many years after service, or are otherwise related to service. As a result, the claims for service connection were denied.

The Board found that the Veteran's current lower back disability is not related to his in-service low back strain and arthritis was not manifest within one year of separation from service. As such, service connection for a low back disability is denied.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities alone are not of such nature and severity as to prevent her from securing or following any substantially gainful employment.

The Board has granted service connection for a back disability and residuals from a small pox vaccination, finding that the Veteran's conditions are related to his military service.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's degenerative disc disease of the low back is proximately due to his service-connected left total knee replacement, and thus grants service connection for this condition.

The Board has remanded the case due to a failure to afford the Veteran a hearing, and the claims file should be returned for further action.

The Board has determined that new and material evidence has been received to reopen the Veteran's claims for service connection for lumbar spine and left knee disorders, each diagnosed as DJD. The Veteran experienced recurrent symptoms of these conditions since separation from service.

The Board has determined that the evidence is at least in equipoise as to whether a low back disability is related to service, and thus grants service connection for a low back disability.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for further development, including a VA examination to assess the impact of his service-connected disabilities on his employability.

The Veteran's claims of service connection for a low back disability, left shoulder disability, and right shoulder disability were denied. The Board found no evidence linking these disabilities to active service.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for further development, including a VA examination to determine the nature and etiology of his low back disability. The TDIU claim will also be delayed pending this development.

The Board has waived the requirement for a timely substantive appeal and granted the Veteran's appeal to proceed with his claims of entitlement to an initial compensable rating for pelvic bone fracture and service connection for various conditions.

The Board found that the Veteran's right knee, left hip, and low back disabilities were not incurred in or related to service.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development of his VA treatment records and Vocational Rehabilitation counseling folder. The issue of entitlement to a TDIU will be reconsidered after these records are added to the claims file.

The Veteran's service-connected cervical and lumbosacral spine disabilities have been rated based on their functional impairment, with no evidence of incapacitating episodes or neurological abnormalities. The current range of motion does not meet the criteria for a compensable rating under either the General Rating Formula for Diseases and Injuries of the Spine or the Formula for Rating Intervertebral Disc Syndrome Based on Incapacitating Episodes.,The Veteran's service-connected cervical and lumbosacral spine disabilities have been rated based on their functional impairment, with no evidence of incapacitating episodes or neurological abnormalities. The current range of motion does not meet the criteria for a compensable rating under either the General Rating Formula for Diseases and Injuries of the Spine or the Formula for Rating Intervertebral Disc Syndrome Based on Incapacitating Episodes.

The Veteran has withdrawn his appeal for increased evaluations for lumbar spine disability.