Back / lumbar spine decisions — 2013

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining VA treatment records and scheduling a spine examination. The case will be re-adjudicated after the development.

The Board finds that the Veteran's current diagnoses of DJD, DDD, and spinal stenosis of the cervical spine are not related to service. The symptoms were not chronic in service and have not been continuous since service separation.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's back disability is not related to service and denied his claim for service connection. The left ear hearing loss and tinnitus claims are addressed in a separate remand.

The Board has granted service connection for a low back disorder and bilateral knee disorders, finding that the Veteran's current conditions are at least as likely as not related to his in-service injuries. Service connection was denied for bilateral hearing loss.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's low back disability is caused or aggravated by his service-connected right knee and hip disabilities, warranting service connection.

The Veteran's cervical spine and thoracolumbar spine disorders have been evaluated as 10 percent disabling since February 25, 1994. The claims for higher evaluations are denied.

The Board has remanded the claims for additional development and adjudicative action due to inadequate or incomplete opinions in previous VA examinations.

The Board found that the Veteran's low back disability is not related to his service or his service-connected bilateral iliotibial band syndrome, and thus denied the claim for service connection.

The Veteran seeks service connection for degenerative joint disease and degenerative disc disease of the lumbar spine with radiculopathy of the left lower extremity, to include as secondary to her service-connected muscle strain of the low back. The Board has remanded the case for a VA opinion addressing whether these conditions were caused or aggravated by her service-connected muscle strain.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim of service connection for a lumbar spine disability, finding that there was no chronic disability at service separation and no evidence of continuity of symptomatology. The Board also noted that the current disability is not related to any in-service injury.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for a total disability evaluation on the basis of individual unemployability (TDIU) due to service-connected disability, finding that his failure to report for scheduled VA examinations without good cause resulted in the denial of his claim.

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

The Board has remanded the case for further development, including obtaining updated VA examination reports and additional medical records. The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for his low back and right hip disabilities will be reconsidered based on the new evidence.

The Board found that the Veteran's current lumbar spine disorder, to include degenerative joint disease, is not related to his service and denied his claims for service connection.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for residuals of injury to the thoracic and lumbar spine, as well as her requests for initial ratings in excess of 20 percent for degenerative changes to C5-6, residuals of injury to the cervical spine, and an initial rating in excess of 30 percent for cervical radiculopathy of the left arm. The Veteran's disabilities were found not related to service.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded to obtain additional medical records and ensure proper development of the claims.

The Veteran's degenerative disc disease of the lumbar spine with complaint of sciatic left lower extremity was rated at 20 percent prior to October 26, 2012. The rating for sciatica of the right lower extremity was also rated at 10 percent prior to October 26, 2012. Both conditions were increased to 40 percent and 10 percent respectively effective October 26, 2012.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for a back disability is being remanded due to the need for additional medical opinions and records.

The Board found that the Veteran's current low back problems are not related to any injury he might have experienced during service, and thus denied his claim for service connection.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded due to the need for a video conference hearing. Service connection will be reconsidered based on the evidence and arguments presented.