Back / lumbar spine decisions — 2015

The Veteran's claim for a compensable evaluation for his service-connected chronic low back syndrome with intermittent lumbosacral strain is being remanded due to the need for additional development, including a VA examination.

The Veteran's appeals for increased ratings and service connection have been dismissed due to the withdrawal of his appeal regarding initial compensable disability ratings for ejaculatory anhedonia/secondary anorgasmia and scar, right little finger. The remaining claims are pending.

The Board has decided to remand the case for additional development, including obtaining medical records and scheduling a VA spine examination.

The Board found no evidence to support the Veteran's claim for service connection for lower back disability or rash of bilateral arms, as there was no in-service injury and no current disability. The claims are therefore denied.

The Veteran meets the schedular criteria for TDIU due to his service-connected disabilities, which have rendered him unable to secure and follow substantially gainful employment.

The Veteran's lumbar strain is currently rated at 20 percent, and the Board finds that it does not warrant a higher rating based on the evidence of record.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for bilateral hearing loss and service connection for a low back disorder were denied. The Board found that the Veteran did not meet the criteria for higher ratings under the applicable rating schedule.

The Board has granted service connection for lumbosacral strain and lumbar degenerative disc disease, as well as chondromalacia patella and degenerative arthritis of the right knee and left knee, all related to the Veteran's active military service.

The Veteran's low back disability is currently rated at 40 percent, effective June 28, 2014. The rating reflects the severity of his condition based on the criteria for degenerative arthritis of the spine.

The Board has remanded the case due to inadequate medical opinions and needs further examination to determine if the Veteran's current back condition is related to his service.

The Veteran's claim for increased ratings for her service-connected lumbar spine disabilities was denied. The Board affirmed the denial, finding that pyramiding precluded separate ratings for left and right lower extremity radiculopathy.

The Board has granted service connection for degenerative arthritis of the lumbar spine, finding that it is at least as likely as not related to a long history of post-service occupational activity and use.,Service connection was denied for degenerative arthritis of the right hip and left hip due to lack of evidence showing an in-service injury or aggravation.

The Board found that the Veteran's low back disorder was not incurred or aggravated by service and arthritis of the lumbar spine could not be presumed to have occurred therein.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities have rendered him unable to secure and maintain substantially gainful employment since August 26, 2010.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including obtaining VA treatment records and scheduling a VA examination to assess the severity of the Veteran's lumbar spine disability. The claim will be reconsidered after these actions.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities render him unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation, and the Board has granted a TDIU.

The Veteran's appeals for higher ratings for bilateral plantar fasciitis with pes planus, hyperpituitarism, hypertension, and lumbosacral strain have been denied. The issue of entitlement to TDIU prior to May 15, 2013 has also been remanded.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's low back disorder did not manifest during service and is not related to any incident of service. The Veteran also does not meet the criteria for a compensable rating for his bilateral hearing loss.

The Veteran's low back and neck disabilities were not shown to be related to service, and the Board denied service connection for these conditions.,PTSD was rated at 50% from February 7, 2011 to June 2, 2014, and at 70% thereafter. The Veteran's PTSD did not meet the criteria for a higher rating.

The Veteran's myofascial lumbar syndrome has been manifested by subjective complaints of pain and objective findings of forward flexion to 90 degrees without evidence of any separately ratable neurological manifestations, ankylosis, or intervertebral disc syndrome with any period of incapacitation. The current rating under the General Rating Formula for Diseases and Injuries of the Spine is adequate.