Back / lumbar spine decisions — 2016

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for sinusitis and lumbar spine disability, finding that her lumbar spine disability was not incurred in or aggravated by service.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development of her claims, including obtaining VA treatment records and service treatment records from Portsmouth Naval Hospital and Jacksonville Naval Medical Center. The examiner will also provide opinions regarding the relationship between current disabilities and in-service injuries or exposures.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining SSA records and VA outpatient treatment records. A VA examination will also be scheduled to determine the nature and etiology of her bilateral hand, knee, and low back disabilities.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for a lumbar spine disability is being remanded due to the need for additional medical opinions and clarification of his periods of active duty for training.

The Veteran's claim for higher ratings for his lumbar spine DDD and associated RLE radiculopathy was denied. The initial rating of 20 percent has been granted, effective from August 13, 2015.

The Board has determined that a remand is necessary to obtain a new VA medical examination for the Veteran's lumbar strain disability due to inadequate testing in the previous examination. The case will be returned to the AOJ for further review.

The Board found that the Veteran's back disorder is not related to his service and denied his claim for service connection.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for a low back condition and a left foot condition, finding that there is no credible evidence of such conditions during or after service.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not render him unable to secure and follow a substantially gainful occupation throughout the appeal period.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including a VA examination to determine if the Veteran's current back and neck disability was caused or aggravated by his service-connected left shoulder disability. The appeal is now pending again with the RO.

The Veteran's claim for a separate rating for his service-connected low back disability and associated radiculopathy of the left lower extremity is denied as there is no legal basis for such a rating.

The Board found that a chronic back disability was not present in service or for several years thereafter, and the competent and probative evidence failed to link the Veteran's current back disability to service.

The Veteran's low back pain syndrome has not resulted in any compensable disability rating due to the lack of evidence showing significant impairment, and his service-connected disabilities do not render him unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for further development to determine the nature and etiology of his claimed conditions, including service connection.

The Board has remanded the case for scheduling a Travel Board hearing at the local RO. The Veteran's claims of service connection for degenerative arthritis, cervical spine disorder, and leg pain are pending.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities have been granted, with a noncompensable rating for bilateral hearing loss and a 10 percent rating for right elbow tendonitis effective August 2, 2013. The claims for restless leg syndrome, right knee condition, and left knee condition were denied.

The evidence shows that the Veteran's DDD of the thoracolumbar spine more nearly approximates forward flexion of 30 degrees or less, and symptoms did not more nearly approximate ankylosis of the entire thoracolumbar spine. The Board finds a rating of 40 percent is warranted for this condition.

The Board has granted the Veteran's claim for service connection for chronic lumbar strain, finding that his gait disturbance from his already service-connected right foot, knee and ankle conditions has caused his current back disorder. The appeals for a right hip condition and an increased rating for hearing loss have been withdrawn.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's back disability does not warrant a rating in excess of 10 percent, and his costochondritis is currently rated as noncompensable.

The Veteran's lumbar spine disability is productive of muscle spasm or guarding severe enough to result in an abnormal spinal contour, warranting a 20 percent rating prior to November 13, 2012.