Back / lumbar spine decisions — 2014

The Board has remanded the case for an addendum medical opinion to determine if the Veteran's current back disability is caused by or aggravated by his service-connected bilateral knee disability. The claim will be returned to the RO after this additional development.

The Board has granted service connection for the Veteran's herniated nucleus pulposus of the thoracolumbar spine as secondary to his service-connected post-operative right total knee arthroplasty with leg shortening. The left shoulder rotator cuff tear is rated at 20 percent, which is the maximum schedular rating available under Diagnostic Code 5201.

The Board denied service connection for a low back disability, including for VA health care purposes due to the character of the appellant's discharge from his period of active duty in the U.S. Army.

The Board found that the Veteran's current low back disability is not related to his military service and denied his claim.

The Board has determined that the Veteran does not have a current diagnosis of right leg neuropathy and therefore, service connection for this condition is denied. The Veteran's PTSD was found to meet criteria for a 70 percent disability rating from June 24, 2008 to November 9, 2009. For his old contusion of the right kidney with residual abdominal wall muscle strain, the Board has determined that a higher than 10 percent rating is not warranted.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's low back disability is not related to his military service and therefore denied the claim for service connection.

The Board has granted service connection for a low back disorder based on newly submitted medical and lay evidence that was not considered in the previous decision.

The Veteran's service-connected knee disabilities have been granted increased ratings, effective June 12, 2013. His right and left knee disabilities are now rated at 20 percent each.

The Veteran's lumbar spine disability is currently rated at 20 percent, and the Board finds that a higher rating is not warranted.

The Veteran's PTSD with major depression is rated at 70 percent, effective from the date of his claim. The claims for service connection for low back and right elbow disabilities have been reopened and are granted. Increased ratings were granted for left carpal tunnel syndrome (prior to June 10, 2010) and left carpal tunnel syndrome (from June 10, 2010). An increased rating of 40 percent was granted for the left elbow disability. The Veteran's GERD with IBS is rated at 30 percent from January 31, 2013. Service connection has been established for right carpal tunnel syndrome. A TDIU was granted prior to September 30, 2009. The reduction in the left carpal tunnel syndrome rating from 40 percent to 20 percent effective January 31, 2013 is upheld.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's lumbar spine spondylosis and bilateral hip strain are caused by his service-connected right knee disability, thus granting service connection for these conditions as secondary to the right knee disability.

The Board has decided to remand the case for additional development, including obtaining VA treatment records and providing a new opinion on whether the Veteran's back disability is caused or aggravated by her service-connected IBS.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded due to the need for additional development, including obtaining medical records and scheduling a VA examination.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for a hearing before the Board of Veterans' Appeals. The issues are whether he should receive an increased rating for his back disability and if he can get service connection for his left knee disability, which may be related to his back.

The Board has decided to remand the case for additional development, including obtaining VA treatment records and scheduling a VA examination. The Veteran's low back disability will be evaluated based on the merits of his claim.

The Board has determined that the reduction in the evaluation of the Veteran's lumbar spine disability from 40 percent to 20 percent, effective September 1, 2010, was not supported by the evidence at the time and restored the original 40 percent rating.

The Veteran's claim for an increased rating for his service-connected degenerative disc disease of the lumbar sacral spine is being remanded due to a lack of recent VA examination and outstanding medical records.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss, low back disability, and bilateral knee disability. The evidence did not support a finding of direct service connection for these conditions.

The Board has granted the Veteran's claim for service connection for a low back disorder. The issue of entitlement to an initial increased evaluation for bilateral plantar fasciitis remains in appellate status, as does the issue of TDIU.

The Board finds that the Veteran's current low back disability is not related to his active service and thus does not meet the criteria for service connection.