Back / lumbar spine decisions — 2016

The Board has determined that further development is necessary before the appeal can be decided, including obtaining additional medical records and verifying stressors. The Veteran's claims for service connection are being remanded to allow for these steps.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's cervical spine and back disabilities are related to his period of active service, granting service connection for these conditions.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded due to his request for a Board videoconference hearing. The issues of service connection for various conditions remain unresolved.

The Veteran was granted service connection for neurodermatitis of the right shoulder, which he claims is due to mosquito bites during service. The VA examiner found that this condition is related to his in-service exposure.,Service connection was denied for low back strain with mild degenerative disc disease as there is no evidence linking it to service.

The Board has determined that new and material evidence has been presented to reopen the Veteran's claims for service connection for lower back and right hip disabilities. The claims are now before the Board for further review.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded due to inadequate earlier VA examination and the need for new VA examinations to determine the etiology of his claimed myofascial pain, upper back, and left arm disorders.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's low back disability, to include degenerative disc disease and degenerative joint disease, is not related to his period of service. The VA examiners concluded that the diagnosed DDD and DJD were less likely than not related to service.

The Board denied service connection for fibromyalgia, right hip disorder, left hip disorder, back disorder, right ankle disorder, left ankle disorder, right leg disorder, and left leg disorder. The Veteran's conditions were not found to be related to her service or secondary to her service-connected pes planus.,Service connection was denied for each of the Veteran’s claimed disabilities as they are not shown to have been incurred in or aggravated by service.

The Board found that the Veteran's low back disability was not incurred or aggravated by service, and is not related to a service-connected condition. The claim for secondary service connection based on aggravation of a pre-existing condition was also denied.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's current back disorder is related to a skiing injury he sustained in service, and thus grants service connection for this condition.

The Veteran's back disability was rated at 10 percent prior to April 23, 2015, and increased to 20 percent thereafter. The current rating of 20 percent is appropriate as it reflects moderate limitation of motion.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's current thoracolumbar and cervical spine disabilities are not related to his military service, and thus denied both claims for service connection.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's lumbar spine disability is not related to service and therefore denied his claim for service connection.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining treatment records and scheduling a VA examination to assess his employment capacity due to service-connected disabilities.

The Veteran's low back disorder was not manifested by forward flexion of the thoracolumbar spine 30 degrees or less prior to August 2, 2012. Therefore, his claim for an initial evaluation in excess of 20 percent is denied.

The Veteran's back disability is rated at 40 percent since the date of his claim, effective from November 13, 2012. The issue of TDIU prior to May 29, 2012 has been referred for further action.

The Veteran's bipolar disorder is found to be related to service-connected arthritis. The Board also finds that the Veteran's service-connected disabilities prevent him from obtaining and maintaining substantially gainful employment, granting his TDIU claim.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims due to incomplete records and need for additional medical opinions.

The Veteran's lumbar spine disorder is currently rated at 40 percent, effective March 17, 2011. The Board denied a higher rating as the evidence did not show ankylosis or incapacitating episodes.

The Veteran's claim of a higher rating for her lumbosacral strain is being remanded due to the need for additional medical examination and consideration.