Back / lumbar spine decisions — 2014

Service connection for the thoracolumbar spine disability is granted, with an initial 30 percent rating effective from August 30, 2007. Increased ratings are denied for the cervical spine and PTSD prior to March 7, 2011, as well as TDIU prior to October 13, 2010.

The Veteran has withdrawn his appeals regarding the reopening of a claim for service connection for a thoracolumbar spine disability and the claim for an increased rating for bilateral hearing loss. As such, these claims are dismissed.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's degenerative disc disease of the low back had its onset during service and is not related to any pre-existing condition. Service connection for this disability is granted.

The Veteran's low back disability is not shown to be related to his service, and the Board finds that he has not provided credible evidence of continuity of symptoms since service. The right shoulder disability claim requires a medical opinion regarding its relationship to service. Increased ratings for residuals of a right distal fibula fracture, right hip strain, and right knee strain are also remanded.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for a low back disability and an acquired psychiatric disorder, finding that new and material evidence had not been submitted to reopen these claims.

The Board has decided to remand the case for additional development of evidence, including rescheduling a hearing at the RO before a Veterans Law Judge from the Board.

The Board has decided to remand the Veteran's claims for a new examination and additional development of his medical records. The Veteran is seeking higher ratings for his service-connected low back disability and right shoulder disorder.

The Veteran's claims for cervical spine and lumbar spine disabilities are granted with an effective date of July 20, 2006.

The Veteran's low back disorder is currently rated at 20 percent, and the Board has granted a higher rating. The case is now remanded to determine if an even higher rating is warranted.

The Board is remanding the claim to obtain additional medical opinions and records, as current evidence does not sufficiently establish whether the Veteran's service-connected back disability with psychiatric manifestations contributed to his alcoholism and ultimately caused his death from end-stage liver disease.

The Board has decided to remand the case for further development regarding the Veteran's claim of entitlement to service connection for his back disability.

The Veteran's lumbosacral spine degenerative disc disease and degenerative joint disease were initially manifested during active service, and the Board finds that these conditions are now granted as service connected.

The Board has determined that service connection is not warranted for an acquired psychiatric disability or a back disability due to lack of evidence showing such conditions were incurred in or aggravated by service.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for his claimed conditions, finding that there was no evidence to support a direct link between his current conditions and his active duty service.

The Veteran's appeal has been dismissed as he withdrew his claims for service connection for a bilateral shoulder disorder and the increased rating claims regarding the knees. The Board also found that there is sufficient evidence to support service connection for left hip osteoarthritis and lumbar spine osteoarthritis.

The Veteran's back disorder is at least as likely as not aggravated by her service-connected bilateral pes planus, and thus service connection for a back disorder is granted.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's lumbar spine disability, degenerative joint disease, was not incurred in or related to service. The claim for hypertension secondary to diabetes mellitus is also denied.

The Board has remanded the claims due to incomplete information regarding the Veteran's active duty for training periods and further development is needed.

The Board found that the Veteran's back disability did not result from service or was caused by his service-connected bilateral knee disability, and thus denied the claim for service connection.

The Veteran's claims are being remanded for further development, including obtaining VA treatment records and scheduling a VA examination to assess the severity of his lumbar spine disability. The TDIU claim is also held in abeyance pending resolution of the increased rating claim.