Back / lumbar spine decisions — 2016

The Veteran's GERD has been manifested by persistently recurrent epigastric distress with dysphagia, pyrosis, and regurgitation, accompanied by substernal arm or shoulder pain, productive of considerable impairment of health. The Board finds that a higher initial 30 percent rating is warranted for GERD.

The Board has decided to remand the case for additional development, including a new VA examination of the Veteran's lumbar spine disability.

The Board denied the appellant's claims for service connection for various conditions, finding that the character of his discharge barred him from receiving VA benefits other than health care under Chapter 17. The appeal was not about service connection at all.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for a lumbar spine disability, left shoulder and hip disabilities, and an initial evaluation in excess of 50 percent for service-connected depressive disorder were denied. The Board found that the evidence did not support service connection for these conditions.

The Board has granted service connection for a low back disability and a right lower extremity disability, including as secondary to the low back disability.

The Board has dismissed the appeal due to a withdrawal request from the appellant's authorized representative.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development due to outstanding VA records and incomplete information from the Veteran.

The Veteran's cervical spine disorder is not service-connected, and his lumbosacral strain with post-surgical laminectomy and total spinal fusion from L2 to S1 currently rated at 60 percent.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for a bilateral knee disorder, low back disorder, and bilateral hearing loss. The TDIU claim was withdrawn prior to decision.

The Veteran's allergic rhinitis is not manifested by polyps or greater than 50% obstruction of a nasal passage, and the claim for an initial compensable rating was denied.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including migraine headaches and major depression, have rendered her unable to secure or follow substantially gainful employment prior to April 9, 2012.

The Board found that the Veteran's current bilateral hearing loss and left ankle disability did not arise during service or for many years thereafter, and are not related to his military service. The claim for low back disability is pending as there was no diagnosis provided in this decision.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for further development, including a VA examination to assess the severity of his thoracolumbar spine disability and any associated neurological conditions.

The Board found that the Veteran's current bilateral hearing loss and left ankle disability did not arise during service or for many years thereafter, and are not related to his military service. The claim for low back disability is pending as there was no diagnosis provided in this decision.

The Board has granted service connection for erectile dysfunction, a 100% rating for major depression, and increased ratings for the Veteran's lumbar spine disability and hypertension. The issue of TDIU based solely on the service-connected lumbar spine disorder is also granted.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development due to concerns about credibility of the Veteran's statements regarding back pain and a need for clarification on the diagnosis of mechanical low back pain/lumbosacral strain.

The Veteran's claim for a higher disability rating for his service-connected chronic low back/middle back syndrome is being remanded due to the need for a new VA examination.

The Veteran's claim for increased rating of lumbar strain was denied. The RO found that the disability did not meet criteria for higher ratings based on range of motion or ankylosis.

The Veteran's cervical spondylosis and lumbar spine disability have been rated based on their service-connected nature. The Veteran is seeking higher initial evaluations for these conditions, but the current ratings of 20% for cervical spondylosis and 10% for the lumbar spine disability are maintained.

The Veteran's lumbosacral strain was rated at 10 percent prior to May 31, 2012.