Back / lumbar spine decisions — 2015

The Veteran's lumbar spondylosis is rated at 10 percent, but the issues for increased ratings are denied.,The Veteran's right and left lower extremity radiculopathy are both rated at 10 percent. The issues for increased ratings are denied.,The Veteran's headaches are currently rated at 10 percent. The issue for an increased rating is denied.,The Veteran's decreased vision in the left eye with optic neuritis is rated at 10 percent. The issue for an increased rating is denied.,The Veteran's status post meningo encephalitis is rated at 10 percent. The issue for an increased rating is denied.,The Veteran's left ear hearing loss is not service-connected and thus does not meet the criteria for a compensable rating.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's low back and cervical spine disabilities are not related to his service-connected right ankle disability or military service.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's current low back disorders, including arthritis and degenerative disc disease, are not related to his military service. The evidence does not show a chronic condition during or within one year after service, nor is there sufficient continuity of symptoms since service.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining outstanding treatment records and a new spine examination. The TDIU issue is also remanded.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's claim for service connection for a low back disability requires additional development due to insufficient medical evidence regarding the etiology of his current condition.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for additional development, including obtaining VA and SSA records, scheduling a cervical spine examination, and providing an addendum to the November 2012 VA examiner's opinion.

The Board has remanded the case for a new VA spine examination and to issue an SOC on the reopening of rheumatoid arthritis claim. The rating reduction claim will be readjudicated after these actions.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's left knee degenerative arthritis and degenerative disc disease of the lumbar spine are not caused or aggravated by service-connected disease or injury, and thus denied his claims for service connection.

The Veteran's appeal of the evaluation for his left knee amputation was withdrawn prior to a decision. The case is being remanded for further development regarding service connection for a lumbar spine disability.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for a colon disability is denied as he does not have a diagnosed colon disability. The claims for prostate and skin disabilities, as well as the low back disability, are remanded.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's low back disability was not incurred in or aggravated by service and arthritis may not be presumed to have been incurred therein.

The Board finds that the Veteran's cervical spine, thoracolumbar spine, and hip disabilities are related to her military service. The evidence is at least in equipoise regarding these claims.

The Board has determined that additional development is needed to determine the nature and etiology of any current low back disability, including whether it was aggravated by service. The Veteran's STRs are incomplete and need to be supplemented with records from his civilian job in August 1994 and during active duty training in May 1995.

The Board found no evidence of a chronic low back disorder in service and denied the Veteran's claim for service connection. For his bilateral knee disabilities, the Board determined that there was insufficient continuity of symptomatology to establish service connection.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for an effective date prior to October 6, 2010 for the award of service connection for lumbar herniated disc at L5-S1. The Veteran's claim was received by VA on October 6, 2010, and he did not file a valid appeal within one year from that date.

The Veteran's service-connected conditions, including PTSD, cervical radiculopathy, and degenerative disc disease of the lumbar spine, are considered to have contributed substantially or materially to his death from pneumonia.

The Veteran's headaches were rated at 30 percent prior to October 2009, and increased to 50 percent effective November 1, 2009.,For the lumbar spine disability, ratings of 10%, 20%, and 50% have been granted since June 5, 2004.

The Board has granted service connection for low back strain with degenerative changes and right hip strain with tronchantric bursitis, finding that these conditions are secondary to the Veteran's service-connected left knee disabilities.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's low back arthritis had its onset during active service and grants service connection for this condition.

The case is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining records from Gorgas Hospital and requesting new VA opinions regarding the Veteran's knee and back disabilities.