Back / lumbar spine decisions — 2013

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings and service connection were denied. The Board found that the evidence did not support higher ratings or additional service connection.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for a low back disability, to include as secondary to his right wrist disability. The evidence submitted since the November 2005 rating decision did not raise a reasonable possibility of substantiating the claim.

The Veteran's service-connected degenerative disc disease of the lumbar spine and cervical spine (neck) disorder are found to be causally or etiologically due to his in-service motor vehicle accident.,Service connection is also granted for depression, as secondary to his service-connected disabilities.

The Board has determined that additional development is needed in order to properly adjudicate the Veteran's claims for an increased evaluation and service connection. The case will be remanded for further action.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for back, neck, lower extremity peripheral neuropathy, brain aneurysm, and soft tissue deterioration/sarcoma have been denied. The Board found no evidence of current disabilities or a nexus to service.

The Veteran's low back, right hip, and left knee disabilities are being remanded for additional examination to determine if they are proximately due or aggravated by his service-connected right knee disability.

The Board found that the Veteran's current low back disorders, lumbar spine degenerative disc and joint disease, and scoliosis are not causally related to his active duty service. The claim for service connection for low back disability was denied.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for PTSD, a psychiatric disability other than PTSD, cervical spine disability, degenerative changes of the lumbar spine, left hand disability to include frostbite residuals, and right hand disability to include frostbite residuals have been denied as there is no competent evidence linking these conditions to his military service.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including rescheduling VA examinations and scheduling a hearing at the RO.

The Board has granted a 40 percent rating for the Veteran's service-connected degenerative disc disease L4-L5 with chronic low back pain, effective as of the date of decision. The claim for service connection for a cervical spine disorder is also granted and a separate compensable rating is assigned for neurologic impairment of the right lower extremity associated with this condition. A TDIU claim is also granted.

The Board has granted service connection for a cervical spine disability, finding that the Veteran's current condition is at least as likely as not caused by his military service.,Service connection was denied for a lumbar spine disability due to lack of chronicity of symptomatology since service.

The Veteran's claims for service connection were denied. The Board found that the evidence did not meet the criteria for an initial disability rating in excess of the assigned ratings.

The Board found that the Veteran's current back disability did not originate in service or until many years thereafter, and is not otherwise related to service. As a result, the claim for service connection was denied.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's low back disability is a result of disease or injury incurred during active military service, and therefore grants service connection for lumbar arthritis and DDD.

The Veteran's low back disability was rated at 10 percent prior to January 28, 2013 and at 20 percent since then. The appeal is denied as the disability does not meet or approximate the criteria for a higher rating under the applicable diagnostic codes.

The Board has determined that a new VA examination is necessary to address the nature and etiology of the Appellant's current lumbar spine and right knee disorders. The case is being remanded for this purpose.

The Veteran's TDIU claim is remanded for additional examinations and development of his service-connected disabilities, including the effects on his employment. The RO must also adjudicate any increased rating claims related to his service-connected disabilities.

The Board found no evidence of a chronic back disability in service, and denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for his current back disability, heart disability, hypertension, and type 2 diabetes mellitus.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded due to the need for a hearing before a third Veterans Law Judge who will participate in the panel decision.

The Board has remanded the case due to missing service treatment records and requests for additional examination reports.