Back / lumbar spine decisions — 2015

The Veteran's claims for service connection for a left eye disability, back disability, and bilateral knee disability have been denied as there is no current evidence of these conditions.

The Veteran's claim for an increased rating for degenerative joint disease of the lumbar spine is granted, with a current evaluation of 40 percent.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development to obtain medical opinions regarding the etiology of his claimed left knee, cervical spine, lumbar spine, and left shoulder disorders. The claims will be reviewed after these opinions are obtained.

The Board found that the Veteran's bilateral hip and low back disabilities are not service-connected, as they were not incurred or aggravated by his military service. The examiner opined that these conditions are less likely related to his service-connected left ankle and left knee disabilities.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings and service connection were denied. The Board found that the evidence did not meet the criteria for a higher rating under the applicable diagnostic codes.

The Board has determined that the Veteran does not have a back disability or radiculopathy of the bilateral lower extremities that was incurred in service. The evidence shows no chronicity of symptoms during service and no indication of such conditions until many years after separation from active duty.

The Veteran's appeal has been withdrawn prior to the Board making a decision.

The Veteran's appeal involves claims for service connection for bilateral foot disability and low back disability. The Board has determined that additional development is necessary to ensure all relevant evidence is considered in the decision.

The Veteran's appeal involves the recoupment of separation pay from his disability compensation payments. The case is being remanded for further review, including determining if any service-connected disabilities were compensable during his first period of service.

The Board finds that the Veteran's current bilateral sacroiliac joint disability is at least in equipoise with her service-connected lumbar spine disability, and therefore grants service connection for a bilateral sacroiliac joint disability as secondary to her service-connected lumbar spine disability.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including healed fractures of the bilateral tibia and fibula, left knee arthritis, right knee arthritis, lumbar spine arthritis, right knee instability, and plantar fasciitis, preclude him from obtaining and maintaining substantial gainful employment as of July 23, 2011. The Board grants a TDIU starting from that date.

The Veteran's erectile dysfunction is as likely as not caused by his service-connected PTSD. The claims for higher ratings for thoracolumbar spine degenerative joint disease with spondylolisthesis, right knee arthritis, and left knee arthritis are granted.

The Veteran's right and left knee disabilities are now service-connected as they were incurred during active duty.,Service connection for the low back disability is denied due to lack of evidence linking it to service.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded due to the failure to appear at a previously scheduled videoconference hearing. The case will be returned for further action.

The Veteran does not have a lumbar spine disorder that was incurred or aggravated in service, and no such disorder may be presumed to have been incurred therein.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's lumbar spine and left knee disabilities were not incurred or aggravated by service, as there is no evidence of chronic conditions during service or within one year after separation. The most recent onset of symptoms was noted many years post-service.

The Veteran's service-connected lumbar spine disability prevents him from securing and following substantially gainful employment.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining an addendum opinion from a VA examiner regarding the etiology of his erectile dysfunction.

The Veteran's claim for a higher rating for his lumbar disc disease was denied as the evidence did not show unfavorable ankylosis of the entire thoracolumbar spine or incapacitating episodes of disc disease and/or additional separately ratable neurological manifestations.