Back / lumbar spine decisions — 2014

The Board has granted service connection for erectile dysfunction as secondary to the Veteran's service-connected anxiety disorder and depressive disorder, as well as his service-connected hypertension.

The Board found no evidence to support the Veteran's claims of service connection for cervical and lumbar spine disorders, concluding that these conditions are not related to his military service.

The Board found that the Veteran's lumbar spine disability was not incurred in or aggravated by service, and it is not secondary to his service-connected left knee disability.

The Veteran's initial claim for a higher rating for his DDD of the lumbar spine was granted, and he is currently receiving a 40 percent rating. His associated left leg radiculopathy has been separately rated at 20 percent since September 26, 2003.

The Board found that the Veteran's current low back disorder is not causally related to service and denied his claim for service connection. The issue of an earlier effective date for bipolar disorder was also addressed, but no action has been taken on the prior remand.

The Board denied service connection for degenerative disc disease of the cervical spine and numbness and loss of dexterity of the bilateral hands as secondary to service-connected conditions. The Veteran's current diagnoses were not related to military service or found to be aggravated by his service-connected lumbar spine disability.

The Veteran's current back disorder is not attributable to his active military service, and therefore he does not meet the criteria for service connection.

The Board found that the Veteran's degenerative changes at L5-S1, including degenerative disc disease and degenerative joint disease, were not related to service or service-connected conditions. The opinion of a VA examiner supported this finding.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for a low back disability and for an increased rating for migraine headaches. The Veteran's low back disability was found not to be related to service, while her migraine headaches were found to meet the criteria for a 30 percent rating from May 21, 2012. The TDIU claim was also denied.

The Board has granted service connection for the Veteran's degenerative joint disease of the lumbar spine, finding that his preexisting condition was aggravated by active service.

The Veteran's claim for increased disability ratings for his low back disability was denied as the evidence did not show forward flexion of the thoracolumbar spine less than 30 degrees or favorable ankylosis, and there were no incapacitating episodes in the past year.

The Veteran's degenerative disc disease of the thoracolumbar spine is currently rated at 20 percent, and his radiculopathy of both lower extremities are also rated at 20 percent each. The rating for the thoracolumbar spine remains unchanged.

The Veteran's low back disability, including degenerative changes at L5-S1, is likely the result of his active service and has been granted as service connected.

The Board has decided to remand the case for a supplemental clinical opinion regarding whether the Veteran's current back disability is related to his military service. The Veteran will be provided with another examination if needed.

The Board has determined that the Veteran is entitled to service connection for a low back disability and bilateral hearing loss disability because the evidence satisfactorily establishes that these disabilities originated during his period of active service.

The Veteran's appeal involves multiple service-connected disabilities, including hematuria, left wrist fracture residuals, lumbar and cervical spine conditions, hip and knee disorders, as well as a right great toe bunion. The issues are related to the evaluation of these conditions.

The Veteran's claim for increased evaluation of his lumbar spine disability is being remanded due to the need for a new VA examination and additional treatment records.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities combine for a 70 percent rating and render him unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation, thus meeting the criteria for TDIU from March 30, 2009.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded due to the need for additional VA examination and treatment records. The issue of an increased rating for his service-connected bilateral pes planus will be reconsidered.

The Board found that the Veteran's cervical and lumbar spine disorders were not incurred in or aggravated by his service, including a motor vehicle accident. The VA examiner opined that these conditions are less likely than not caused by any military service.