Back / lumbar spine decisions — 2014

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not result in the necessary regulatory impairments to qualify for specially adapted housing or a special home adaptation grant.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development due to insufficient evidence and a need for an addendum to the February 2011 VA examination report.

The Veteran's claims for earlier effective dates and increased ratings have been granted, with the effective dates corresponding to the date of receipt of his formal or informal claims. The service-connected conditions are associated with the thoracolumbar spine disability.

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

The Veteran's appeal of the claims for bilateral hearing loss and a back condition is dismissed.,The Veteran's claim of entitlement to service connection for glaucoma of the right eye has been granted.

The Board has determined that additional development is needed to determine the nature and etiology of any current diagnosed back disability, including whether the Veteran's pre-existing back disability was aggravated during his most recent period of active duty service (August 2008 to September 2009).

The Veteran's right knee and left knee pain and limitation of motion are presumed to have been incurred during his service in the Persian Gulf War. The low back and right hip disabilities are not currently addressed as they require further examination.

The Veteran's low back disability was found to not warrant a rating in excess of 10 percent prior to March 23, 2011.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's current low back and psychiatric disabilities are not related to service, thus denying his claims for these conditions.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for a thoracolumbar spine disability and an increased rating for pityriasis and folliculitis, finding that there was no evidence of a current disability related to service or any other compensable basis. The claim for service connection is denied.

The Board finds that the Veteran's low back disability is less likely related to his active service, and thus denies his claim for service connection.

The Veteran's low back disability was not shown to meet the criteria for a rating in excess of 10 percent prior to October 14, 2011 and/or in excess of 20 percent from that date.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's current low back and bilateral knee arthritis are caused by gait changes resulting from his service-connected bilateral post-operative callosities and plantar warts of the feet.

The Veteran's low back and right knee disabilities were not service-connected, as they are unrelated to his military service. His neurological abnormalities and stress fracture residuals did not warrant higher ratings.

The Board has granted service connection for the Veteran's left knee disability and aggravation of his low back disability by his service-connected right knee disability. Service connection was denied for a direct relationship between the low back disability and service.

The Board found that a cervical spine disorder, including DDD and mechanical low back pain, did not manifest in service and is not otherwise related to the Veteran's military service.

The Board found no evidence linking the Veteran's current low back and right knee disabilities to his period of service, resulting in a denial for both claims.

The Board denied the Veteran's increased rating claims for his service-connected degenerative arthritis of the lumbar spine and bilateral lower extremity radiculopathy. The issues were remanded to the agency of original jurisdiction (AOJ) for further development.

The Board found that the evidence did not support a finding of a back disorder related to service, and thus denied the Veteran's claim for service connection.

The Veteran's claims for service connection and increased ratings have been denied. The lumbar spine disability is rated as noncompensable prior to September 10, 2007, and 10 percent from that date to May 21, 2013, with a 40 percent rating beginning May 22, 2013. The cervical spine disability was also rated as noncompensably disabling prior to May 22, 2013, and 10 percent thereafter.