Back / lumbar spine decisions — 2014

The Board has determined that the Veteran's current low back, left hip, and right hip disabilities are not related to his military service. The preponderance of evidence is against a finding of direct service connection for these conditions.

The Veteran's death was caused by cardiac arrest due to or as a consequence of acute myocardial infarction and coronary atherosclerosis, which were related to his in-service high blood pressure readings and chest pains. The Board has granted service connection for the cause of the Veteran's death.

The Board found that the Veteran's thoracolumbar and cervical spine disorders are not related to his military service, or any incident therein.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including PTSD and multiple physical injuries, have rendered him unable to secure or maintain substantially gainful employment.

The Veteran's claims for higher ratings for his cervical spine and lumbosacral spine disabilities were denied. The claim for a higher rating for cutaneous neuritis of the left thigh was also denied as it is already at its maximum allowable rating.

The Board found the Veteran's low back disorder was not incurred in or aggravated by service, and is not secondary to a service-connected disability. The claim for service connection has been denied.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's current diagnoses of DJD, DDD, and spinal stenosis of the cervical spine are related to his in-service motor vehicle accident, and thus service connection is granted.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's current back disability and tinnitus are related to his service, granting service connection for both conditions.

The Veteran's service-connected lumbar spine right paracentral disc protrusion of L4-L5 was granted a 20 percent rating prior to August 7, 2010 and a 40 percent rating since then. The left knee patellofemoral pain syndrome was granted an increased rating from 10 percent to 40 percent since August 29, 2011. The Veteran's external hemorrhoids were granted a 10 percent rating prior to August 7, 2010 and a 20 percent rating thereafter.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for further development, including obtaining additional medical records and scheduling a VA examination to assess the current severity of his service-connected lumbar spine disability and lower extremity radiculopathy.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded due to the need for additional development, including a VA examination to assess neurologic manifestations of his service-connected back disability.

The Board found that the reduction from a 20% to a 10% rating for low back strain with DDD, effective May 1, 2009, was proper based on evidence showing improvement in the Veteran's condition.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded due to the need for a new VA examination and additional medical records.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for a back disability is being remanded due to the need for additional development, including obtaining medical records and arranging for a VA examination.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral knee, hip, and low back disabilities are being remanded due to the need for clarification of opinions from his VA treating physician.

The Veteran's claim for an increased disability rating for his service-connected lumbar myositis is being remanded due to the need for additional development, including a new VA examination and obtaining relevant medical records.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's lumbar arthritis and degenerative disc disease, as well as his right leg radiculopathy, are related to his service-connected bilateral knee instability. The decision is in favor of granting service connection for these conditions.

The Veteran's claims for service connection were denied. The Board found that the Veteran does not have current left ear hearing loss, lumbar spine disorder, or cervical spine disorder. For his right knee disability, a compensable rating was granted but no more than 10 percent.

The Board denied service connection for chronic left leg and low back disorders, finding that the Veteran's current conditions are not related to his military service.

The Board has determined that a remand is necessary to obtain updated VA examinations for the Veteran's service-connected lumbar strain with traumatic arthritis and left knee strain with degenerative joint disease, as the last examination was from August 2011.