Back / lumbar spine decisions — 2013

The Board has remanded the claims due to the need for further development of the record, including VA examinations and additional medical records.

The Veteran's TDIU claim is granted, and his claims for service connection of various knee, back, ankle, and hip disorders are reopened. The effective date remains pending.

The Board has remanded the case for further development and examination, including obtaining medical records from various providers. The Veteran's low back disability is being considered for direct service connection.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for degenerative disc disease of the thoracolumbar spine with arthritic changes is being remanded due to inadequate examination and incomplete medical records.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for neck pain, thoracic and lumbar spine disability, bilateral shoulder disability, and bilateral leg pain as these conditions are not separate from her service-connected fibromyalgia.

The Veteran's lumbar spine disability was rated at 20 percent prior to September 7, 2007. The Board found that the evidence did not support a higher rating based on range of motion or ankylosis.

The Veteran's appeal of the remaining claims has been withdrawn, and thus these claims are dismissed.

The Board found that the Veteran does not have current disabilities for bilateral hearing loss, a bilateral elbow disorder, or a low back disorder for VA purposes and denied all claims.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded to schedule a videoconference Board hearing due to his request. The initial evaluation for degenerative disc disease of the lumbar spine with facet joint syndrome remains pending, as does the TDIU claim.

The Veteran's service-connected cervical and lumbar spine disabilities rendered him unemployable from September 28, 2004 to August 3, 2011. The Board granted a total disability rating due to individual unemployability (TDIU) for this period.

The Board found that the Veteran's hearing loss and lumbar strain are not related to his military service, and thus denied both claims.

The Board has remanded the case for a new VA examination to determine if the Veteran's back disability is related to his military service, and whether any right foot numbness during service was due to a spine issue. The Veteran also contends that his current back disability may be aggravated by his military duties.

The Board has granted service connection for bilateral hip disorders and a back disorder, finding that the Veteran's symptoms are related to his military service.

The Board has ordered a new VA examination to determine if the Veteran suffers from any current residuals of his pilonidal cyst, and whether any current back disability is etiologically related to or aggravated by the in-service pilonidal cyst. The case will be remanded for further development.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for hearing loss and low back strain have been denied. The Board found that the evidence did not support a higher rating for either condition.

The Veteran's claims are being remanded for additional VA examinations to evaluate the current severity and manifestations of his service-connected low back strain, left eye disability, and PTSD. The Veteran will be scheduled for a VA spine examination, a VA eye examination, and a VA mental disorders examination.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's right hip arthritis is at least as likely as not related to service, but his right shoulder and lumbar spine disabilities are not shown to be related to service.

The Board found no evidence of a current back disability and concluded that the Veteran's claimed back disorder is not related to his military service.

The Veteran's GERD, cervical spine strain, and lumbar spine strain have been rated at the maximum available rating of 30 percent for each condition. The appeal is granted.

The Board has determined that additional development is needed to substantiate the Veteran's claims for service connection of his back, neck, and hearing loss disabilities. The case will be remanded for further action.