Back / lumbar spine decisions — 2014

The Board found that the Veteran's thoracolumbar spine disability, including degenerative disc disease and arthritis, was not incurred or aggravated by active duty service. The claim for an earlier effective date for TDIU is addressed in the REMAND portion of the decision.

The Veteran's cause of death was not due to any service-connected disability. The Board did not find evidence that any of his service-connected conditions contributed substantially or materially to the cause of death.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for secondary service connection for low back and right knee disabilities as they were not proximately due to or the result of a service-connected disability.

The Veteran's lumbosacral spine condition is manifested by constant pain, limitation of motion, tenderness, muscle spasms, and separately service-connected bilateral lower extremity radiculopathy symptoms. The criteria for a disability rating greater than 20 percent for lumbosacral strain have not been met.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims due to a lack of adequate examination and consideration of all relevant evidence, including post-service accident history.

The Board denied service connection for PTSD and the claim to reopen a back disorder. The Veteran's depression and left hip arthralgia issues remain unresolved.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's current lung, skin, and back disabilities are not related to service. Further development is needed to determine if any of these conditions were caused by exposure to asbestos or petrochemical derivatives during service.

The Veteran requested to withdraw his appeal for service connection of a low back disability, and the Board has dismissed the claim.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development of his claims, including obtaining medical records and scheduling examinations to assess the severity of his service-connected disabilities.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining VA treatment records and scheduling the Veteran for appropriate examinations to determine the current severity of his service-connected conditions.

The Board has remanded the claim of service connection for a low back disorder due to further development being required.

The Board finds that the Veteran does not have any of the claimed disabilities as directly related to service and none can be medically related to residuals of his service connected shell fragment wound. The Veteran's PTSD is found to be unemployable.

The Veteran does not have current disabilities due to left patellofemoral syndrome, a left foot disorder, a left hip disorder, right hip bursitis or other right hip disorder, a low back disorder, or intertrigo or other skin disorder. Her tinnitus has not been shown as having been sustained during her active duty service or as being related in any other way to her active duty service.

The Board has determined that the Veteran does not have a current disability for which service connection can be granted, including articulation disorder (hip), fatigue and low energy, hyperlipidemia, IBS, or diverticulitis. Therefore, his claims are denied.

The Veteran's service-connected cervical spine disorder is currently rated at 20 percent, the maximum schedular rating available. The Board finds that his disability does not warrant a higher rating as there are no incapacitating episodes of intervertebral disc syndrome and he has full forward flexion with only objective evidence of painful motion.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded to the RO for additional development, including obtaining SSA records and scheduling a VA examination. The Veteran seeks an increased rating for his service-connected cervical spine disability.

The Veteran's radiculopathy of the left lower extremity is found to be service-connected as secondary to his service-connected intervertebral disc syndrome. The Veteran does not meet the criteria for special monthly compensation based on loss or loss of use of a creative organ.

The Board found no evidence of a low back disability in service or within the first post-service year, and concluded that any current degenerative changes are not related to service. The Veteran's claim for service connection was denied.

The Veteran seeks service connection for lower back and bilateral ankle disorders, which she claims were incurred during reserve service. The Board has ordered additional development to include obtaining relevant medical records and scheduling a VA examination.

The Veteran's lumbar spine degenerative disc disease with left lower extremity radiculopathy is rated at 40 percent, effective May 9, 2012. The Veteran does not have a compensable rating for alopecia or uterine fibroids.