Back / lumbar spine decisions — 2014

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining medical records and scheduling a VA examination to determine if his service-connected disabilities render him unemployable.

The Veteran's claims for service connection are being remanded due to the need for additional development, including VA examinations and obtaining relevant medical records.

The Veteran's tinnitus had its onset in service and the Board has granted service connection for this condition.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including her total vaginal hysterectomy and multiple spine conditions, are found to be disabling enough to prevent her from securing or maintaining substantially gainful employment.

The Board has restored the Veteran's 40 percent rating for her lumbar spine strain, effective February 10, 2010. The claim for a higher rating remains pending.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for a back disability is being remanded due to the need for additional development, including obtaining relevant medical records and clarifying previous opinions.

The Board has dismissed the Veteran's appeal for service connection for a heart disorder, to include as secondary to contaminated water exposure at Camp Lejeune.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded to determine if his back disability prevented him from using and completing his Chapter 30 (MGIB) education benefits prior to the September 8, 2010 delimiting date.

The Board has determined that additional development is needed to properly adjudicate the Veteran's claims for service connection, including obtaining medical opinions and records.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded to obtain a new VA examination and determine if her service-connected disabilities preclude her from obtaining or maintaining any gainful employment. The case will be readjudicated after the examination.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for slight lumbar dextroscoliosis with osteophytosis and cardiomegaly and atherosclerotic aorta were denied as there is no evidence of an in-service injury or disease, and the conditions are not related to his military service.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral pes planus and a low back disability, finding that his pes planus preexisted service and was not aggravated by service. The low back disability was also found to be unrelated to active service.

The Veteran's degenerative joint disease of the lumbar spine is currently rated at 40 percent disabling since July 31, 2007. This rating reflects limitation of motion with forward flexion to 30 degrees or less.

The Veteran's osteoarthritis of the thoracolumbar spine is rated at 60 percent, effective from the date of this decision.,Both his right and left lower extremity peripheral neuropathy are currently rated at 20 percent.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's back and neck disorders are related to his military service, granting service connection for both conditions.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including obtaining medical records and scheduling a VA examination to determine if the Veteran's back disorder is caused or aggravated by his service-connected right leg disability.

The Board found no evidence of a chronic back disorder during service or within one year after separation, and the post-service record does not show compensable arthritis of the back. The claim for service connection is denied.

The Board denied the Veteran's appeal for an initial rating in excess of 20 percent for degenerative arthritis of the lumbosacral spine prior to March 23, 2009 and a rating in excess of 40 percent from that date onwards.

The Veteran's TDIU claim is being remanded for further development, including obtaining a medical opinion on the combined effect of his service-connected disabilities and their impact on employment.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including obtaining a VA examination and addressing the Veteran's claim of service connection for degenerative disc disease, L4-5, with spinal stenosis. The Veteran is also to be scheduled for an examination to determine the impact of his service-connected disabilities on his employability.