Back / lumbar spine decisions — 2014

The Veteran's current back disability was not incurred or aggravated by service, and his hip pain is not related to a service-connected condition. The Board finds that the preponderance of evidence does not support these claims.

The Veteran's lumbar spine disability, headaches, and left knee scar were not rated higher than the current levels of 10 percent. The evidence did not meet the criteria for a higher rating under the applicable diagnostic codes.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for cervical spine and lumbar spine disabilities on a secondary basis to his service-connected right shoulder disability. The VA examiners found no nexus between these conditions and the right shoulder.,The Board also denied the Veteran's claims for bilateral radiculopathy and neuropathy of the upper extremities on a secondary basis to his service-connected right shoulder disability.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims of service connection for right ear hearing loss, left ear hearing loss, tinnitus, and low back disability. The evidence did not show a current disability in any of these conditions for VA purposes or that they were incurred during service.

The issues of service connection for a low back disorder, skin disorder, and an acquired psychiatric disorder other than PTSD have been dismissed as moot due to the grant of these conditions in a September 2012 rating decision.,Service connection has been granted for lumbar strain and lumbar spondylosis, onychomycosis, skin graft harvest right thigh to left mid shin non healing wound, diabetic dermopathy, folliculitis, and a mood disorder. The effective dates are specified in the September 2012 rating decision.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection of right knee, left knee, and low back disabilities. The reduction in rating of bilateral hearing loss from 100% to noncompensable effective June 1, 2008, was also denied.

The Board finds that the appellant does not have a low back disability, sciatica, or peripheral neuropathy in either lower extremity attributable to his military service.

The Veteran's case is being remanded due to his inability to travel for a scheduled hearing in Washington, DC. He has requested a Video Conference hearing at the Buffalo RO instead.

The Board has reopened the Veteran's claim of service connection for a back disability and remanded it to request additional treatment records.

The Board granted a 20 percent rating for the Veteran's lumbar intervertebral disc protrusion at L4-L5 with degenerative disc disease prior to February 5, 2011. The appeal was denied for higher ratings since that time.

The Veteran's service-connected lumbar spine disability is currently evaluated at 20 percent, which adequately reflects the severity of his condition based on his range of motion and symptoms. He is also separately rated for radiculopathy of the right sciatic nerve.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded for additional development, including obtaining medical records and scheduling a VA examination to assess the current severity of his service-connected low back disability.

The Board has found that the Veteran's current neck disability is not etiologically related to his active service and denied his claim for service connection. The claims for back, left knee, and right knee disabilities are remanded due to incomplete medical opinions.

The Board finds that the Veteran's current lumbar spine disorder is not related to his active service, as it was not incurred or aggravated during his first period of service and there is no clear and unmistakable evidence that it was aggravated by his second period of service.

The Board has remanded the claims for additional development due to inadequate opinions in a previous VA examination.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including obtaining updated medical records and opinions from VA examiners regarding service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder and a lumbar spine disability. The TDIU claim is also inextricably intertwined with these issues.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's current back disability began in service and has persisted since then, granting her claim for service connection.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's current neck, low back, and knee conditions are related to an in-service incident where he was thrown from a truck. As such, service connection for these conditions is granted.

The Board has reopened the Veteran's claim for service connection for low back pain. However, the claim for service connection for neck disability remains denied as there is no credible evidence linking the current condition to military service.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for low back spasms, right ankle disorder, and right heel disorder are being remanded due to the need for additional medical opinions regarding their etiology.