Back / lumbar spine decisions — 2016

The Board denied entitlement to increased ratings for the Veteran's lumbar spine disability prior to May 11, 2011 and right hip disability prior to November 6, 2007.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorder, low back disability, and left knee disability are not service-connected as they did not manifest within one year of separation from service or are not otherwise related to military service.

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

The Veteran's lumbar strain disability is rated at 20 percent, effective March 1, 2009. The evidence does not show any limitation of motion or ankylosis that would warrant a higher rating.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining a vocational assessment and adjudicating the right knee sprain claim. The TDIU claim will be reconsidered after these actions.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including a VA examination to assess the severity of his service-connected degenerative changes in the lumbar spine. The case will be returned to the Board after this review.

The Board found that the Veteran's service-connected bilateral knee disabilities did not cause or aggravate his current back disorders, and thus denied his claim for secondary service connection.

The Veteran's low back disability is currently rated at 40 percent, and the Board finds that a higher rating is not warranted based on the current evidence.

The Veteran's cervical spine and low back disorders have been granted service connection, with a current evaluation of 40 percent.

The Board has granted service connection for sleep apnea and assigned a 10 percent disability evaluation. The issue of an increased rating for lumbosacral strain remains on appeal.

The Board found no current disability in any of the claimed conditions and thus denied service connection for low back disorder, right knee disorder, right thumb disorder, and bilateral shoulder disorder.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for a back disability is being remanded due to the need for additional development, including obtaining VA treatment records and providing an examination.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's current back disability is causally related to his active service, and thus service connection for multilevel degenerative disc disease and facet arthrosis with post-surgical changes of laminectomies at L3, L4, and L5 is granted.

The Board found that the Veteran's lumbar spine disability is not service-connected as it was present prior to service and did not worsen during service.

The Veteran's thoracolumbar and cervical spine disorders are being remanded for further examination and development as the current opinions do not adequately address his lay statements regarding in-service injuries.

The Board denied service connection for a low back disorder, finding no evidence of an in-service injury or event and no credible statements regarding continuity of symptoms since service.,The Board also denied service connection for depression, finding no evidence of an in-service injury or event and no credible statements regarding continuity of symptoms since service.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings and initial evaluations have been denied. The current evaluations assigned are considered appropriate based on the evidence of record.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded due to a scheduling conflict with his employment, and he has requested rescheduling of the video-conference hearing.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection due to inadequate examination findings and new evidence.

The Board has reopened the claim for service connection of a low back disorder and remanded it for further development, including obtaining medical records and an examination.