Back / lumbar spine decisions — 2015

The Veteran's appeal for increased ratings and service connection was denied. The lumbar spine disability is not more than 20 percent disabling, the left shoulder strain prior to January 19, 2011, does not meet a higher rating, bilateral pes planus claim was withdrawn, right knee and left knee retropatellar pain syndrome do not meet a higher rating, service connection for a left hip disorder is denied, service connection for right and left elbow disorders is denied, and service connection for a right ankle disorder is granted.

The Board has remanded the case for further development due to insufficient evidence and a need for an additional VA examination.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to the need for additional evidence and a VA examination. The Veteran's claim for service connection for her lumbar spine disability will be reconsidered after obtaining the requested records and conducting the necessary examination.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for diverticulosis has been granted. The Board finds that there is competent and probative medical evidence of record suggesting a relationship between the Veteran's current disability and his active service.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded to obtain additional medical records and for a VA examination. The issues are whether the Veteran's bilateral hip condition and back problems were caused or aggravated by VA treatment.

The Board has granted increased ratings for lumbar strain and left pelvic fracture disabilities, effective December 28, 2009. The Veteran's claims for service connection for various conditions have been granted.

The Board has determined that additional development is needed to determine the etiology of the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus disabilities, as well as to obtain any SSA records. The case will be remanded for these actions.

The Veteran's claim for an increased rating for his service-connected lumbar spine disability is being remanded due to the need for a new VA examination and consideration of additional VA treatment records.

The Veteran's claim for a TDIU is being remanded due to the need for additional examinations and development of her service-connected disabilities, including a new VA examination for her lumbar spine disability and a Social and Industrial Survey.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for a lumbar spine disability has been reopened, but the evidence does not establish that he currently suffers from this condition. The Veteran is also seeking an increased evaluation for his residuals of a left ring finger laceration, which remains at 10%.,There is no established bilateral hearing loss or cervical spine disability, and the Veteran's complaints of unspecified joint stiffness are attributed to a recent injury.

The Veteran's claims for increased evaluations for chronic low back strain and bilateral foot conditions were denied as his disabilities do not warrant a higher evaluation under the applicable rating criteria.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including VA examinations and the issuance of a statement of the case.

The Board has granted the Veteran's claim for service connection for myofascial lumbar syndrome, finding that it is related to active duty service.

The Veteran's service-connected degenerative joint disease (DJD) of the lumbosacral spine has been rated at 40 percent since April 26, 2012. The current rating adequately reflects the severity of her disability based on the criteria for evaluating diseases and injuries of the spine.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for back disability, bilateral hearing loss disability, and bilateral leg disability. The decision also noted that the issue of respiratory disability was remanded.

The Board finds that the Veteran's low back disability is as likely as not aggravated by service and grants service connection for a low back disability.

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

The Veteran's appeal is remanded to address his claims for separate compensable disability evaluations for neurological manifestations of service-connected degenerative joint and disc disease of the thoracolumbar spine involving the lower extremities, and disc disease of the cervical spine involving the upper extremities.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development to determine the nature and severity of his back disorder, as well as to obtain updated audiological examination results. The claims will be re-adjudicated after these actions.

The Veteran seeks service connection for a lumbosacral and sacroiliac spine condition, which the Board has remanded due to insufficient evidence on whether his current diagnoses are related to his reported injury in service.