Back / lumbar spine decisions — 2015

The Board denied service connection for a low back disorder and left hip disorder, finding that the evidence did not establish a nexus between these conditions and active military service.

The Veteran's cervical and lumbar spine disabilities did not manifest in service or within one year of service, and are not otherwise related to service.,The Veteran does not have a current diagnosis for radiculopathy of the bilateral upper extremities or sciatica of the lower extremities.,The Veteran's bilateral knee disabilities did not manifest in service or within one year of service, and are not otherwise related to service.,After affording the benefit of the doubt, a current headache disability is related to service.

The Veteran's claim for increased rating of bilateral hearing loss has been granted and rated at 20 percent effective July 14, 2014. The claims for service connection for low back disorder and neck disorder have also been reopened.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for a back disability, an acquired psychiatric disorder to include PTSD, and vision loss disability due to incomplete VA treatment records and other relevant documents. The claims will be returned to the AOJ for further development.

The Board denied a rating in excess of 20 percent for lumbar paravertebral myositis from October 31, 1994, and denied ratings higher than 10 percent for right leg S1 radiculopathy and left leg peripheral neuropathy.

The Veteran's lumbar spine disability is rated at 20 percent, effective from December 15, 1997. The Board has determined that a higher rating of 40 percent is warranted based on the current criteria for evaluating IVDS.

The Veteran's lumbar degenerative disc disease was rated at 10 percent prior to May 12, 2014.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's low back disorder and bilateral ankle disorder are related to his military service, granting service connection for both conditions.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for a TDIU due to service-connected disabilities, finding that his conditions did not meet the criteria for this benefit.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for degenerative disc disease of the cervical spine with spondylosis were denied as his conditions did not meet the criteria for higher ratings under the applicable VA rating schedule.

The Veteran's right knee disability is currently rated at 10 percent for limitation of motion, and his back disability is rated at 10 percent. The appeals for higher ratings are denied.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded due to the need for a Board hearing at the RO. His claims for increased evaluation of his low back disability and service connection for bilateral knee disability are still pending.

The Veteran's spine disability, including arthritis of the lumbar and cervical spine, is not considered to be related to her active service or a service-connected condition.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's low back disability with radiculopathy is etiologically related to her active service, and thus grants service connection for this condition.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded due to his failure to appear for a scheduled hearing. The case will be processed again after scheduling the Veteran for a videoconference hearing at the RO.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development to determine if her service-connected disabilities prevent her from securing or maintaining all forms of substantially gainful employment.

The Veteran's claim for an increased evaluation for his service-connected degenerative disc disease L4-L5, with lumbar strain, myositis, spondylosis, and arthritis is being remanded due to the need for a new VA examination.

The Veteran's claims for right knee, left knee, and low back disorders are being remanded to obtain additional medical records.,New evidence may be submitted to reopen the claims of entitlement to service connection for left knee and low back disorders.

The Veteran's service-connected lumbar spine disability is rated at 40 percent, and he is granted a TDIU for the period prior to June 28, 2011. The issue of SMC at the housebound rate is also granted effective from June 28, 2011.

The Veteran's claims for bilateral knee, shoulder, and low back disorders are being remanded due to the unavailability of service treatment records. A VA examination is needed to determine if these conditions are related to his military service.