Back / lumbar spine decisions — 2016

The Board finds that the reduction in the rating for the Veteran's lumbosacral strain, degenerative disc disease, and intervertebral disc disease from 40 percent to 20 percent was not proper due to lack of improvement in the Veteran's ability to function under ordinary conditions of life and work.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for the residuals of in-service vaccinations, cervical spine disability, lumbar spine disability, right upper extremity neurological disability, left lower extremity neurological disability, and right lower extremity neurological disability was denied. The Board found no current diagnosis or disability related to his adverse reaction to in-service vaccinations.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining VA and SSA records, scheduling appropriate examinations, and readjudicating the claims.

The Board has reopened the claim of entitlement to service connection for a low back disability and granted service connection. The Veteran's current lumbosacral strain is related to his military service.

The appeal is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining VA treatment records and scheduling the Veteran for examinations to assess his low back disorder, left leg tarsal tunnel syndrome, and left foot hallux valgus.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining VA treatment records and scheduling the Veteran for appropriate VA examinations to determine the nature and etiology of his claimed conditions.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss is granted. The Board finds that the Veteran has a current diagnosis of bilateral hearing loss as defined by VA and that it is related to his military service. For the low back disorder, the Veteran's claim is remanded due to insufficient evidence regarding its onset in service or relation to military service.

The Board has remanded the case for further development, including obtaining a medical opinion on whether the Veteran's service-connected lumbar spine disability caused or aggravated his cervical spine disability and addressing the issue of direct service connection for his headaches.

The Board found no evidence of a chronic disability in service and denied the Veteran's claims for low back injury, left hip pain, and left leg weakness as not related to his military service.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's current low back disability is not related to his service, specifically a motor vehicle accident in 2003. The weight of evidence does not support a finding that the current degenerative arthritis and degenerative disk disease are related to service.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for a low back disability and denied his increased rating claims. The decision also addressed issues related to knee disabilities, including instability and limitation of motion.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's current lumbar spine disorders, including arthritis, are not related to service and are not caused or aggravated by his service-connected left ankle disorder.

The Veteran's lumbosacral strain was rated at 40 percent from April 7, 2012 to May 23, 2014. From May 24, 2014, the rating remains at 20 percent.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded due to a need for another videoconference hearing. The issues of increased evaluations for low back disability and radiculopathy are still under consideration.

The Board has remanded the case back for consistent proceedings due to a need for further examination and opinion regarding the etiology of the veteran's claimed right knee, lumbar spine, and right leg disabilities.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded due to scheduling issues for a videoconference hearing. The main issues are related to the rating of his lumbar degenerative joint disease and the effective date of service connection.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's claims for service connection for a bilateral hearing loss disability, tinnitus, back disability, and neck disability are granted.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including obtaining treatment records and scheduling VA examinations. The Veteran's claims for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, a back disability, and a right leg disability are pending.

The Veteran seeks a TDIU rating based on his service-connected disabilities, including PTSD, bilateral knee and back conditions, headaches, and tinnitus. The Board has determined that additional medical opinion is needed to assess the impact of these disabilities on his employability.

The Veteran's lumbar spine disability was granted a temporary 100% evaluation from August 11, 2009 to November 1, 2009. The effective date for the 40% rating is set at March 31, 2009. Service connection for major depressive disorder has been established.