Back / lumbar spine decisions — 2014

The Board has granted service connection for a low back disability but denied service connection for a right knee disability.

The Veteran's appeal regarding an increased evaluation for coronary artery disease, status-post coronary angioplasty has been withdrawn. The remaining issues of service connection and TDIU are being remanded.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including scheduling a VA examination and obtaining outstanding records. The Veteran's low back condition is being evaluated to determine its etiology.

The Veteran's claim for an evaluation in excess of 20 percent for his lumbosacral strain is being remanded due to the need for a new VA examination and additional development, including obtaining records from Social Security Administration (SSA).

The Veteran's claim for a rating in excess of 10 percent for his service-connected lumbar spine disability, effective November 25, 2008, was granted. The Veteran is now rated at 20 percent for this condition.

The Veteran's claim for an earlier effective date for service connection and increased evaluations for his degenerative arthritis of the lumbar spine was denied. The Board found that the earliest date after the January 1999 RO decision that the Veteran expressed an intent to reopen his claim for service connection for a lumbar spine disability was December 22, 2000.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's back disability, diagnosed as thoracic and lumbar segmental vertebral dysfunction, was not present in service or until years thereafter and is not etiologically related to any incident of active military service. Therefore, the claim for service connection for a back disability is denied.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for pain in the back and sides is being remanded due to insufficient medical evidence. The Board requires a VA examination to determine if there is a current disability and whether it is related to service.

The Veteran received prior authorization for a series of three lumbar nerve root blocks, but the second one was performed after the prior authorization expired. The Board found that payment or reimbursement should be made as the prior authorization specifically approved the procedure and the Veteran reasonably relied on it.

The Veteran's claim for an increased rating for degenerative disc disease at L4-5 and L5-S1 was denied. The Board found that the evidence did not support a higher rating as his disability has not resulted in unfavorable ankylosis of the entire thoracolumbar spine or intervertebral disc syndrome with incapacitating episodes having a total duration of at least 6 weeks during the past 12 months.

The Board has remanded the case due to an omission in a prior examination and for obtaining additional treatment records. The Veteran's claim of service connection for a back disorder secondary to his left ankle disability, as well as claims for initial ratings for erectile dysfunction and a scar from circumcision, will be reconsidered.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development due to incomplete records from the Veteran's service at Espiritu Santo, New Hebrides. The Veteran served there from July 8, 1942 until December 1943 and reported being thrown into the air while transporting heavy equipment, resulting in treatment for three days.

The Veteran's lumbar strain is rated at 40 percent since August 27, 2010. He also has a separate 10 percent rating for right lower extremity radiculopathy.

The Board finds that the Veteran's current back disorder is not etiologically related to his military service on a direct basis and thus, does not warrant service connection.

The Board has decided the appeal is remanded for additional development, including a new examination to assess the nature and etiology of the Veteran's back disorder.

The Board has remanded the case due to inadequate medical opinions and additional development is required.

The Board dismissed the motion to review the July 2011 decision denying service connection for bilateral pes planus, neck disability, and reopening and denying service connection for back disability due to the withdrawal of the motion.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded for further development, including an updated examination and consideration of his neurological manifestations. The case will be returned to the Board for readjudication.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development to determine the nature and etiology of his bilateral knee, shoulder, back disorders, benign prostatic hypertrophy with urinary obstruction, incipient senile cataract, sleep apnea, erectile dysfunction, and hypertension.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss disorder, tinnitus, hemorrhoids, lumbar spine disorder, psychiatric disorder, and ganglion cyst of the right wrist were not incurred in or aggravated by service.,Service connection was denied for all claimed conditions.