Back / lumbar spine decisions — 2014

The Veteran's increased rating claim for his left lower extremity disability was granted, and he is now rated at 20 percent. Service connection claims for a left foot disorder and low back disorder were also granted.

The Board found that the Veteran's back disability was not directly or presumptively incurred during his service, and thus denied his claim for service connection.

The appeal is being remanded for further development, including obtaining the appellant's service personnel records and any accident reports related to a 'boiler explosion' onboard his vessel.

The Veteran's service-connected major depressive disorder and chronic low back pain are rated at their maximum schedular ratings, with a 100% rating for MDD.

The Veteran's appeal includes claims for service connection for hypertension and a TDIU. The Board has remanded the hypertension claim due to disagreement with its denial, while the TDIU claim is being remanded for additional development.

The Veteran's lumbar spine disability is not manifested by incapacitating episodes requiring bed rest prescribed by a physician and treatment by a physician, and there are no associated neurologic abnormalities. Therefore, the claim for an initial rating greater than 10 percent for degenerative disc disease of the lumbar spine is denied.

The Veteran's appeals for shin splints and a back disability have been dismissed due to withdrawal. The Board has granted service connection for generalized anxiety disorder and depressive disorder, but denied service connection for PTSD and/or adjustment disorder.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for additional development, including obtaining his Reserve service records and VA/privately obtained treatment records. The case will be returned to the AOJ for further adjudication.

The Board has remanded the case for further development due to inadequate examination findings and issues related to radiculopathy and lumbar spine disability.

The Veteran's current back disability was not manifest during active service or within the first post-service year, and is not shown to be otherwise related to his active service. The Board finds no evidence connecting his current back disability with activities he engaged in during service.

The Board found no evidence of a back injury in service and concluded that the Veteran's current back disability is not related to his military service.

The Veteran's degenerative disc disease of the lumbar spine and associated radiculopathies have been rated based on their current manifestations, with no higher ratings granted. The Veteran has also been awarded a TDIU due to her service-connected disabilities.

The case is being remanded due to the need for a new VA examination by a physician, as the previous one was conducted by a physician's assistant.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims of service connection for various conditions, including an acquired psychiatric disorder, tinea cruris, a low back disorder, and bilateral hip disorder. The decisions were based on direct service connection without any presumption or secondary service connection.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's low back disability, left elbow disability, left hip disability, and left knee disability are related to his active service.

The Board has decided to remand the case for a VA examination and consideration of extraschedular considerations due to significant functional impairment not reflected in current rating criteria.

The Veteran withdrew his appeal regarding the issue of service connection for a back disability, and therefore this claim is dismissed.

The Board found that the reduction in the rating for the Veteran's lumbar spine disability from 40 to 0 percent, effective July 1, 2011, was proper based on sustained improvement and within the applicable regulations.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for peripheral neuropathy of the right lower extremity, bilateral peripheral neuropathy of the upper extremities, and degenerative disc disease of the lumbosacral spine with nerve root involvement. The evidence does not raise a reasonable possibility of substantiating these claims.

The Board has remanded the case for a videoconference hearing before a Veterans Law Judge at the RO regarding the claims to reopen service connection for a low back disability and service connection for bilateral carpal tunnel syndrome.