Back / lumbar spine decisions — 2014

The preponderance of the evidence shows that the Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not make him unable to obtain or retain substantially gainful employment.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for further development, including obtaining medical opinions regarding his bowel and bladder incontinence related to his service-connected lumbar spine disability, and a VA vocational specialist examination to assess the impact of his disabilities on his employability.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including scheduling a VA Compensation and Pension examination to determine the nature and etiology of the Veteran's back disability. The examiner must provide an opinion on whether it is at least as likely as not that the Veteran's service-connected left knee disability aggravated his claimed back condition.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's lumbar spine, hip, and sacroiliac joint disabilities are related to his service-connected residuals of shell fragment wounds.

The Board has determined that new and material evidence has not been received to reopen the Veteran's claims for service connection for low back pain with degenerative joint disease and residuals of head trauma. The claims are therefore denied.

The Board has granted service connection for a low back disability and dismissed the appeal of the right ear hearing loss issue. The respiratory disability claim is remanded for further development.

The Board has remanded the case due to the Veteran's receipt of Social Security Administration disability benefits and a need for additional medical records. The issues on appeal include service connection for various joint disorders.

The Veteran's lumbar spine disability is currently rated at 40 percent, and his radiculopathy of the left lower extremity is rated at 10 percent. The Board has determined that a higher rating for either condition is not warranted.

The Veteran's high cholesterol claim has been withdrawn. The Board is remanding the remaining claims for further development.,The Veteran's low back disorder and heart disorder are related to his in-service motor vehicle accident, but not his post-service obesity-related arthritic changes or pre-existing jaw surgery.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded to obtain additional medical records and for further development of his service connection claims.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded due to his incarceration, and the Board requests further information on whether he can attend a hearing or if accommodations are feasible.

The Veteran's claim was partially granted, with some issues receiving a higher rating and others remaining at the current level. The service connection for certain conditions is established, but not all claims were successful.

The Board has granted service connection for right hand degenerative arthritis and thoracolumbar degenerative arthritis with scoliosis, both rated at 10 percent.

The Board has reopened the claims for service connection for right knee, left shoulder, low back, and urinary disabilities. Service connection is granted for right knee degenerative joint disease. The claims of service connection for residuals of an appendectomy, a disability manifested by headaches and dizziness, and a skin disability manifested by jock itch are not reopened.

The Board has granted service connection for right and left knee ITBS, finding that the Veteran's in-service diagnoses of ITBS are sufficient to satisfy the criteria for a current disability. Service connection is also granted for her lower back condition as related to service.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for a lumbosacral spine disability is being remanded due to the need for additional VA treatment records and further examination.

The Board finds that the Veteran's low back disorder is not related to his service or any service-connected disabilities, and thus denies the claim for service connection.

The Veteran's back disability is currently rated as 10 percent disabling, and his migraines are also rated as 10 percent disabling. The Board has granted the initial evaluations for both conditions.

The Veteran's claim for an increased evaluation for his service-connected degenerative arthritis of the thoracolumbar spine was granted, with a current rating of 10 percent.

The Board found that the Veteran's statements were less than credible regarding his in-service hand injury and denied service connection for a right hand disability. The Board also found no evidence of a current back disability causally related to active service, attributing it to age. Finally, the Board concluded there was no evidence linking COPD to active service.