Back / lumbar spine decisions — 2013

The Board has determined that the Veteran's back disability, encompassing the thoracic and lumbosacral spinal segments, was not incurred in or aggravated by service. The claim is denied.

The Board has reopened the Veteran's claims for service connection for back, left knee, and left shoulder conditions. The evidence shows that these disabilities are related to his military service.

The Board found that the Veteran's current back disability is not related to his service and denied his claim for service connection.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded due to the need for additional development, including a VA examination to assess the current severity of his service-connected low back disability and whether any neurological symptoms are attributable to this condition.

The Board has remanded the claims of service connection for a low back disorder and head injury residuals due to additional development being required, including obtaining medical records from the Veteran's in-service treatment facility and scheduling VA examinations.

The Board has remanded the case due to procedural issues and requests for additional evidence, including VA audiological examination reports and records of any prior VA treatment. The Veteran's appeal will be reconsidered based on this new information.

The Veteran's DDD of the lumbar spine is now rated at 40 percent effective December 12, 2011.,The Veteran's DDD of the cervical spine is now rated at 30 percent effective December 12, 2011.

The Board has granted the Veteran's claims for service connection for a left elbow disorder and an evaluation in excess of 60 percent disabling for lumbosacral strain status post laminectomy and discectomy.

The Veteran's low back strain was found to have started in service and has continued since then, warranting service connection.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for a low back disorder is being remanded due to the need for additional development, including obtaining medical records and conducting a VA examination.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for scheduling a hearing before the Board of Veterans' Appeals. The issues include reopening and service connection claims, as well as evaluations for various conditions.

The Board found that the Veteran's cervical and lumbar spine disorders are due to injuries sustained during his period of active service, granting service connection for these conditions.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for various conditions, including PTSD and a chronic right shoulder disability, was granted. The Veteran also received increased evaluations for his PTSD.

The Board found no evidence of a chronic low back disorder in service and denied the claim for service connection. The skin disorders were not linked to herbicide exposure or other service events.

The Veteran's appeal is denied as the Board found that he did not meet the criteria for an increased evaluation of his multi-level compression fracture of the thoracolumbar spine prior to March 16, 2011. For the period since March 16, 2011, the evidence does not show additional functional impairment due to pain or weakness that would warrant a higher rating.

The Veteran's lumbar spine disability was rated at 20 percent prior to February 18, 2011 and increased to 40 percent on and after that date. His left hip disability remained at a 30 percent evaluation from April 1, 2001, until his TDIU award in May 2012.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's right hip bursitis is caused by his service-connected low back strain, granting secondary service connection for this condition.

The Board found that the Veteran's current back disability did not begin during or as a result of his military service, and thus denied his claim for service connection.

The Board previously denied an increased rating for the Veteran's service-connected degenerative disc disease status post L4-L5 fusion. The case is now remanded to the RO for further development and re-adjudication.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's low back disability is related to his service-connected hip and knee disabilities, thus granting service connection for this condition.