Back / lumbar spine decisions — 2014

The Board has determined that the Veteran's radiculopathy of the left and right lower extremities is causally related to his service-connected degenerative disc disease of the lumbar spine, granting service connection for these conditions.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded for additional development, including obtaining VA treatment records and scheduling a spine examination. The issues of increased ratings for degenerative disc disease with mild spondylosis of the lumbar and thoracolumbar junction, left lower extremity radiculopathy, and right lower extremity radiculopathy are also remanded.

The Veteran's appeal was dismissed due to his death, and the Board has no jurisdiction to adjudicate the merits of his claim at this time.

The Veteran's claim for an increased rating for degenerative disc disease of the lumbar spine with radiculopathy was dismissed due to the death of the appellant.

The Veteran is shown to be unable to obtain or retain substantial gainful employment due to his service-connected lumbosacral strain with peroneal nerve entrapment, and a TDIU on an extraschedular basis has been granted.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's DDD of the lumbar spine is related to service and grants this claim. The right knee disability and left knee disability claims are remanded for further development.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's claims for service connection are REMANDED due to the need for additional examinations and development of evidence.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining outstanding VA and private treatment records, providing corrective VCAA notice, and scheduling a VA examination to determine the etiology of his low back injury.

The Veteran's service-connected post-operative residuals of the left knee with lateral instability and arthritis of the left knee are manifested by severe instability/subluxation, poor propulsion, and limited painful motion. The disability is rated at 30 percent under Diagnostic Code 5257.

The Veteran's claim for bilateral sensorineural hearing loss is denied as she does not meet the criteria for a disability under VA regulations.,The Veteran's claim for arthritis of lumbar spine, claimed as secondary to service connected residuals of a fractured coccyx, is also denied. The Board finds that her current condition is less likely related to her in-service injury.

The Board has remanded this matter for a Travel Board hearing. The Veteran's claim of service connection for bilateral hearing loss and the reopening of his claim for degenerative arthritis of the lumbar spine will be addressed at the earliest available opportunity.

The Veteran's lumbar spine disability is rated at 40 percent disabling since September 1, 2011. The Board found that the current rating adequately compensates him for his service-connected disabilities and granted a TDIU effective January 7, 2012.

The Veteran's low back disability, which includes degenerative arthritis and degenerative disc disease, is currently evaluated at 10 percent. The evidence does not meet the criteria for a higher rating.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for alcohol dependence, osteoporosis, low back disorder, and cardiovascular disease as secondary to his service-connected anxiety disorder not otherwise specified with major depressive disorder.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including a lumbar spine disability, radiculopathy of the left and right lower extremities, and major depressive disorder, have resulted in a combined rating of 80 percent since March 31, 2010. The Board is remanding to determine if he was unemployable due to these disabilities prior to that date.

The Veteran is precluded from substantially gainful employment due to his service-connected disabilities, and the Board finds that he meets the criteria for a TDIU.

The Board has remanded the case for further development due to insufficient medical evidence regarding the etiology of the Veteran's low back disability.

The Veteran's combined rating is now at 70% due to the service-connected mood disorder. The case is remanded for further development, including a new VA examination and addendum opinions.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for various conditions, including Lyme disease and its residuals, as well as secondary disabilities to these conditions, have been denied. The evidence does not support a finding that any of the claimed conditions are related to active military service or are due to a service-connected disability.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including an adequate VA examination and medical opinion regarding the etiology of the Veteran's current low back disability.