Back / lumbar spine decisions — 2015

The Board has remanded the case for further development due to an inadequate VA examination and medical opinion, as well as the need to obtain additional treatment records.

The Veteran's appeal has been dismissed due to the withdrawal of his appeal by his authorized representative.

The Veteran's bilateral leg disorder is found to be secondary to his service-connected lumbosacral spine degenerative disc disease. His current rating for the lumbosacral spine disability remains at 40 percent.

The Veteran's thoracolumbar spine disability is not productive of forward flexion of the thoracolumbar spine of 30 degrees or less, and he does not have a current disability of the left elbow, left hand, or hips. Therefore, his initial rating for this condition remains at 20 percent.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's claimed conditions are not related to his military service and thus denied all of his claims for service connection.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for degenerative disc disease of the lumbar spine and left knee with osteoarthritis/degenerative changes, previously evaluated as fracture, closed, junction, middle lower third of left tibia and fibula were denied. The evidence did not meet the criteria for a higher rating under any applicable diagnostic codes.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including new examinations and a determination of whether he meets the criteria for TDIU based on his service-connected DDD of the lumbar spine.

The Board has remanded the case due to inadequate examination and missing medical records, as well as the need for a new VA examination of the Veteran's low back disability.

The Board has granted the Veteran's claims for service connection for a right shoulder disorder and tinnitus, but denied his claim for low back disorder due to incomplete evidence. The case is remanded for further development.

The Veteran's claims for service connection were denied across the board. The Board found no evidence of a current disability in most cases and insufficient medical nexus to support the Veteran's assertions.

The Board has found service connection for a low back disorder and right lower extremity radiculopathy is granted. The Veteran's current diagnoses are related to his active duty service.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for his service-connected lumbar strain with mild scoliosis and degenerative disc disease of the cervical spine were denied as there was no evidence to support a higher rating under the applicable VA rating criteria.

The Veteran's left wrist disability and low back disorder are service-connected. The Board granted the Veteran's claims for these conditions.

The case is being remanded for additional development to obtain service treatment records and determine the etiology of the Veteran's claimed disabilities, including low back, right shoulder, bilateral knees, and bilateral hip/pelvis.

The Board has granted service connection for a low back disability, radiculopathy of the lower extremities (secondary to the low back disability), and tinnitus. The Veteran's current disabilities are related to his active military service.,Tinnitus was found to be less likely as not due to service but more likely due to civilian noise exposure.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's cervical spine disorder, including degenerative arthritis and degenerative disc disease, was manifested to a compensable degree within one year of his separation from service. Therefore, presumptive service connection is granted.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining relevant VA treatment records and scheduling a TBI examination to address the issue of whether his psychiatric disorders are related to his service-connected traumatic brain injury.

The Board finds that the evidence does not support a finding of a current low back disability causally related to or aggravated by active service.

The Veteran's initial ratings for cervical and thoracolumbar spine disabilities have been denied as they do not meet the criteria for a higher rating under the applicable VA Rating Schedule.

The Board has determined that service connection for a degenerative disc and joint disease of the lumbar spine is granted, resolving all reasonable doubt in favor of the Veteran.