Back / lumbar spine decisions — 2015

The Board has remanded the case for further development and to schedule a hearing. The Veteran's claims of service connection for low back disability, cervical spine disability, and carpal tunnel syndrome are still pending.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities render him unable to follow a substantially gainful occupation, meeting the criteria for TDIU.

The Board found that the Veteran's right ankle disability was not incurred in or aggravated by service, and denied his claim. For his back disability, a remand is required to obtain an opinion regarding its etiology.

The Veteran's low back disability with sciatica is found to be related to his in-service combat injury, and service connection for this condition is granted.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for hearing loss, lower back disorder, weight loss as an undiagnosed illness, and joint pain as an undiagnosed illness have all been denied. The Board found no evidence of current disabilities or a causal link to service.

The Veteran's claims for service connection, increased rating for lumbar spine disability, and TDIU are being remanded due to the need for additional medical examination and development of records.

The Veteran's tinea pedis is characterized by symptoms of crusting on less than one percent of the whole body; dermatitis that covers at least 5 percent, but less than 20 percent, of the entire body or exposed areas, or intermittent systemic therapy such as corticosteroids or other immunosuppressive drugs required for a total duration of less than six weeks during the past 12-month period has not been shown.,A heart disorder, sinusitis, back disorder, migraines and GERD were not shown in service or for many years thereafter, and are not related to service.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for further development, including VA examinations to determine the etiology of his left thumb condition and back condition. The issues of increased rating for right knee chondroplasty arthritis, postoperative scar, and PTSD are also being remanded.

The Board has reopened the Veteran's claim of service connection for a back disability and is granting it, as new and material evidence has been received since the January 2002 denial.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's lumbar myositis with degenerative disc disease warrants a 20 percent rating from October 4, 2012. The radiculopathy of both lower extremities also warrant a 20 percent rating.

The Veteran's spondylosis of the thoracic and lumbar spine with kyphosis of the thoracic spine is currently rated at 40 percent, which is the maximum schedular evaluation available. The cervical spine disability is currently rated at 20 percent. There are no incapacitating episodes over the past 12 months due to intervertebral disc syndrome.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient medical opinions regarding the Veteran's cervical spine disability and its relationship to service. The issues of entitlement to service connection for degenerative disc disease of the cervical spine and radiculopathy of the left arm are inextricably intertwined and must be deferred pending further development.

The Board has granted a 10% rating for hypertension and restored the 50% rating for headaches. The claim for increased rating of low back strain with degenerative disc disease and sacroiliac joint osteoarthritis is denied. TDIU remains pending.

The Veteran withdrew her appeals for the issues of entitlement to an initial disability rating in excess of 20 percent for a service-connected lumbar spine disability and entitlement to an initial rating in excess of 10 percent for service-connected fecal leakage.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not preclude him from obtaining or maintaining substantially gainful employment consistent with his education and occupational background.

The Veteran's lumbar strain is currently rated at 20 percent, and the issues regarding migraine headaches have been denied. The effective date for a 30 percent rating for migraine headaches has not been established earlier than May 25, 2007.

The Board found that the Veteran's low back disability was not incurred in service and denied his claim.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for PTSD, low back disability, and chloracne have been denied. The rating of 30 percent has been assigned for anxiety and depressive disorders with alcohol dependence prior to September 19, 2013.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings and TDIU were denied because he failed to report for scheduled VA examinations without providing good cause.

The Veteran's left shoulder and lumbar spine disabilities are not service-connected as they were caused by his own medical condition, specifically the June 2007 cardiac event. The VA treatment did not cause these additional disabilities.