Back / lumbar spine decisions — 2014

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

The Veteran's appeal for a higher rating for his low back disability was denied, and he is still rated at 40 percent. The claim for SMC based on loss of use of lower extremities, need for regular A&A, or being housebound (HB) was also denied.

The Board found that the Veteran's low back disorder is not shown by the most probative evidence to be related to his military service.

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

The Veteran's claim for an effective date prior to March 15, 2005 for the grant of service connection for osteoarthritis of the lumbar spine was denied. The Board found that the earliest possible effective date is March 15, 2005, when the Veteran filed a request to reopen his claim.

The Board found that the Veteran's lumbar spine, bilateral knee, and lower extremity peripheral neuropathy disorders did not manifest within one year of service discharge and are not caused or aggravated by his service-connected residuals of foot injury.

The Board has remanded the claims for additional development due to insufficient evidence regarding service connection and treatment records. The Veteran's current spinal disabilities may be related to a military accident, but more information is needed to determine their exact cause. His psychiatric symptoms are also unclear, as they could relate to his combat experience or other factors.

The Veteran's PTSD has been medically linked to a verified in-service stressor and fear of hostile military or terrorist activities, warranting service connection.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded to the RO for a videoconference Board hearing. The issues include service connection for lumbar spine disability and bilateral radiculopathy, benign prostatic hypertrophy (prostate surgery), initial increased rating for PTSD, and initial increased rating for bilateral hearing loss.

The Board has ordered a remand to schedule the Veteran for a VA examination to determine if his low back and right hip disorders are related to his service-connected right knee disability.

The Veteran's claims of service connection for degenerative arthritis of the thoracolumbar spine and right shoulder were granted, with ratings assigned. The initial rating for the thoracolumbar spine is 20 percent effective July 31, 2012, and for the right shoulder is 30 percent effective November 20, 2012.

The Board denied an increased rating for the Veteran's service-connected thoracolumbar spine disability.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's diagnosed mild degenerative arthritis of the lumbar spine, mild peripheral neuropathy of the left and right lower extremities are not related to his military service.

The Veteran's lumbar spine disability is rated at 40 percent prior to February 2011, and separate evaluations of 20 percent are assigned for radiculopathy of the left and right lower extremities. The Veteran also meets criteria for a TDIU based on his service-connected disabilities.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded due to his request for a videoconference hearing, and the RO has scheduled a travel board hearing instead. The case will be returned to the Board after the hearing.

The Board has remanded the case due to inadequate examination and need for additional development, including obtaining VA treatment records.

The Board has remanded the case due to the need to obtain additional medical records and consider them in the context of the Veteran's claim for service connection for a low back disability.

The Board found that the Veteran's current residuals of a neck injury and recurrent herniated lumbar disc with spinal instability are not causally or etiologically related to any disease, injury, or incident in service.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for a disorder manifested by numbness of the arms bilaterally has been denied, as he does not have a current diagnosis. However, his lumbar arthritis is related to his in-service motor vehicle accident and thus granted.

The Board has remanded the case due to inadequate medical opinions and further development is needed before a final decision can be made on the Veteran's claim for service connection of his low back disability.