Back / lumbar spine decisions — 2015

The Veteran's lumbar spine disorder, right sciatica, left shoulder joint disorder, bilateral foot disorder, and IBS have been granted increased ratings. The effective dates for these increases are not specified.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's current low back disability is not caused by or a result of his active duty service, and thus denied his claim for service connection.

The Board has determined that the VA examinations and opinions are inadequate for rating purposes, and thus a new examination is needed to determine if the Veteran's low back disorder is related to service or secondary to his service-connected knee disabilities.

The Veteran's low back disability, characterized by degenerative joint disease and pain, was initially rated at 10 percent prior to March 29, 2010. The current rating of 10 percent is maintained as the evidence does not meet criteria for a higher evaluation.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for a higher rating for his low back strain with chronic facet arthritis of the lumbar spine and denied service connection for his bilateral hip disability, finding that there was no evidence to support these claims.

The Veteran's claims for higher initial evaluations and effective date were granted, with a combined 100% rating effective March 21, 2014.

The Board has determined that the Veteran does not have a low back disability, right knee disability, right wrist disability, right foot disability, right hip disability, toenail fungus, or varicose veins that are related to his military service.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings and effective dates were denied. The Board found that the evidence did not meet the criteria for higher ratings or earlier effective dates.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for various conditions, including degenerative disc disease of the lumbar spine, a heart disorder, hypertension, erectile dysfunction, and sleep apnea. The appeal is remanded to the AOJ.

The Veteran's claim for increased ratings for his low back disability is being remanded due to the need for additional development, including a new VA examination and an addendum medical opinion regarding flare-ups of his symptoms.

The Board has granted service connection for lumbosacral strain and degenerative arthritis of the spine as secondary to service-connected knee disabilities. The issues regarding increased ratings for right knee disabilities are remanded.

The Veteran's service connection claim for degenerative arthritis of the lumbar spine is granted as it became manifest to a degree of 10 percent within one year of his separation from active duty. The claims for increased ratings for right and left shoulder strain, and residuals of an eye injury are referred back to the AOJ for further action.

The Veteran's claim for a higher rating for his service-connected lumbar spine disability was denied. The current rating of 20 percent is maintained.

The Board found that a chronic lower back disorder was not present until more than one year after the Veteran's discharge from service and is unrelated to her military service.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development due to inadequate examination and reasoning in previous decisions regarding service connection for a back condition and skin disorder.

The Veteran withdrew her appeals for both issues prior to the Board's decision.

The Veteran's claims for effective dates prior to December 27, 2012 for service connection of scars and facial neuropathy are granted. The initial disability ratings assigned remain unchanged.

The Board found that the Veteran's current back disability was not incurred or aggravated during service and is not related to any in-service injury. The claim for service connection for residuals of a back disability is therefore denied.

The Veteran's service-connected lumbar spine disability was found to warrant a 20 percent evaluation since May 22, 2013. The previous evaluations prior to that date were denied.