Back / lumbar spine decisions — 2014

The Board finds that the Veteran's current diagnosis of degenerative joint disease of the lumbar spine is at least as likely as not related to his service-connected left knee instability, and thus grants service connection for this condition.

The Board has determined that additional development is needed to obtain medical records and ensure proper consideration of the Veteran's claims for service connection.

The Board finds that there is no competent and credible evidence establishing current disabilities of the upper back or low back. The Veteran's service treatment records show only transient episodes of back pain, which resolved without residual pathology.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for further development to determine the etiology of his sleep disorder, cervical spine disability, and lumbar spine disability.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's currently diagnosed degenerative disc disease of the lumbosacral spine is at least as likely as not caused by in-service spine injuries, and thus service connection for a low back disability is granted.

The Veteran's claims for service connection have been REMANDED due to the need for a hearing before the Board.

The Board has remanded the case due to an inadequate July 2010 VA examination and a need to retrieve VA treatment records from 1990 to March 1995. The Veteran's claim for service connection for a back disorder will be reconsidered based on this additional evidence.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for a low back disability, to include as secondary to his service-connected right and left knee disabilities. The issue of reopening his claim for bursitis of the right hip was also addressed but is no longer before the Board due to its resolution in favor of the Veteran.

The Veteran's degenerative disc disease of the lumbar spine is rated at 40 percent effective January 1, 2012. Additionally, her moderately severe incomplete paralysis of the sciatic nerve is also rated at 40 percent effective January 1, 2012.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's current degenerative disc disease and degenerative joint disease are related to his military service, granting service connection for these conditions.

The Veteran's claim for an increased rating of his cervical stenosis, spondylosis at C5, C6, and C7, and degenerative disc disease at C5-6 and C6-7 with neuroforaminal encroachment was denied. The current evaluation is 20 percent.

The Veteran's claims for higher ratings and propriety of assigned ratings are being remanded due to the need for additional development, including obtaining medical records and scheduling a VA examination.

The Veteran's appeal was denied for an increased rating for bilateral pes planus and service connection for cervical and lumbar spine spondylosis. His request for automobile and adaptive equipment was granted.

The Veteran's service-connected lumbar spine disability resulted in forward flexion of the thoracolumbar spine limited to no less than 75 degrees, with consideration of the Veteran's pain. There was no evidence of favorable ankylosis of the entire thoracolumbar spine or incapacitating episodes due to intervertebral disc syndrome or radiculopathy. The criteria for a higher rating were not met.

The Veteran was granted service connection for depression. The Board also addressed other claims but deferred a decision pending further case development, including obtaining SSA records and verifying the in-service stressor for PTSD.

The Board has determined that there is no current diagnosis for the Veteran's claimed cervical spine, lumbar spine, and right lower extremity disabilities. Therefore, service connection cannot be granted.,The Veteran's hypertension was not evaluated in this decision.

The Board has granted a 50 percent rating for the Veteran's left hip disability and has also granted service connection for his low back disability as secondary to his left hip disability.

The Veteran's low back disability was rated at 40 percent effective January 3, 2014. His right and left knee disabilities were each assigned a separate 10 percent rating as of the same date.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for a low back condition is being remanded due to the need for additional medical records and further development.

The Veteran's current back disability is shown to have begun in or is otherwise due to his military service, and the Board finds that service connection for this condition is granted.