Back / lumbar spine decisions — 2014

The Board has granted service connection for the Veteran's cervical spine disability, finding that it is related to his military service. The lumbar spine disability claim was withdrawn by the Veteran during his hearing.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including his low back, left hip (total replacement), right hip, and right knee conditions, prevent him from engaging in substantially gainful employment.

The Veteran's claim for an earlier effective date for a 20% disability rating for his back disability is denied. The June 2001 denial of service connection for the back disability became final in July 2002, and there was no communication prior to May 2006 indicating an intent to reopen the claim.

The Board has found that the Veteran's current back disability, manifested as lumbar degenerative disc disease, is related to his active service. The claim for bladder disability was not supported by evidence of a current condition.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for further development, including a VA examination to assess the impact of his service-connected disabilities on his ability to secure and follow a substantially gainful occupation.

The Veteran's migraine headaches were incurred in service and are currently manifested.,While the current low back disability is not shown to have had its onset during service, it is related to a pre-existing condition aggravated by service.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining updated VA treatment records and scheduling the Veteran for a PTSD review examination. The issue of entitlement to an increased evaluation for a low back disability will be addressed in a supplemental statement of the case.

The Board has granted a 50 percent evaluation for PTSD, effective from the date of the claim. The Veteran's service-connected lumbar spine disability with secondary sciatic nerve disability is not addressed in this decision.

The Veteran is seeking service connection for left knee degenerative joint disease and lumbar spine minimal scoliosis with moderate degenerative disc disease and mild degenerative joint disease. The Board has ordered additional development to consider new evidence submitted by the Veteran.

The Veteran's claims for increased evaluations for traumatic arthritis, left sacroiliac joint and lumbosacral spine, post-traumatic arthritis, right hip joint and sacroiliac joint, right hip flexion, and right hip abduction were denied as the evidence did not show unfavorable ankylosis of the entire spine or hip joints.,The maximum evaluations available under the applicable rating criteria for these conditions have been assigned.

The Veteran's service-connected osteoarthritis of the lumbar spine is rated at 40 percent since July 28, 2010. This rating reflects his limited forward flexion to 10-15 degrees and pain on motion.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for cervical strain with spinal stenosis and a low back disorder, finding that there was no evidence linking these conditions to his military service.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's current lumbar spine disability is not related to service, and thus denied her claim for service connection.

The Board is remanding the case due to inadequate medical opinions and a need for clarification from private providers.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's right knee disorder and degenerative disc disease are related to his active service, granting his claims for these disabilities.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral wrist and elbow disorders have been granted.,The Veteran's claims for higher initial evaluations for his service-connected degenerative disc disease of the thoracolumbar spine and right knee disabilities are being remanded.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not render him incapable of obtaining and maintaining gainful employment, thus the claim for a total rating based on individual unemployability due to service connected disabilities is denied.

The Board has determined that the Veteran does not have service connection for right ear hearing loss, right knee disorder, or a back disorder due to lack of evidence showing such conditions were incurred in or aggravated by military service.

The Veteran's lumbosacral strain (low back disability) is rated at 20 percent, which is the maximum schedular rating available. The Board finds that his symptoms do not warrant a higher evaluation as they do not meet or approximate the criteria for a higher rating under any applicable diagnostic code.

The Board denied service connection for a low back disability, tinnitus, residuals of bilateral hip and knee injuries, sleep apnea, and boils/abscesses in the groin region due to lack of evidence linking these conditions to active military service.,For each issue on appeal, the VA examiners found no direct link between the claimed condition and training or service. The Board also noted that post-service records did not show any treatment for these conditions until many years after release from training.