Back / lumbar spine decisions — 2016

The Board has determined that the Veteran's lumbosacral spine, cervical spine, and radiculopathy disabilities are not related to his military service or any service-connected disability. The evidence does not support a finding of direct service connection for these conditions.

The Board denied service connection for a right shoulder disorder and a lumbar spine disorder, finding that the disorders were not caused or aggravated by service or service-connected conditions.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's current degenerative arthritis of the lumbar spine is related to his military service, and thus grants service connection for this condition.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for a low back disability, left ear hearing loss disability, and left knee disability. The claim for an increased rating for bipolar disorder was also denied.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for his service-connected cervical strain and IVDS with degenerative joint disease of the lumbar spine have been denied. The criteria for a higher rating under the applicable diagnostic codes have not been met.

The Board found that the Veteran does not have a current hearing loss disability or chronic thoracolumbar spine disability for VA purposes, and thus denied service connection for these conditions. The Board also determined there was insufficient evidence to link any current back condition to service.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's low back, neck, bilateral arm and shoulder disorders are related to his service in Vietnam and Agent Orange exposure. The neurological disorders of both lower extremities, bilateral leg, knee, hip, and upper extremities are also found to be secondary to these conditions.

The Veteran's claim for increased rating and service connection was granted, with a separate rating of 10 percent for radiculopathy of the right lower extremity. The claims for migraines, respiratory condition, psychiatric disorder, cervical spine disability, and right shoulder condition are pending further development.

The Board has granted the Veteran's claim for service connection for lumbar degenerative disc disease as secondary to her service-connected bilateral pes planus, right knee arthritis, and left knee DJD. The remaining issues of increased ratings and TDIU are pending.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's lumbar spine disability, left ankle disability, and heart palpitations are not service-connected. The Veteran's back condition is denied as there is no evidence of a chronic disability related to his active duty service. His left ankle disability was also not shown to be caused by any period of service. Lastly, the Board found that the current heart palpitations are secondary to his service-connected PTSD.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's current back disability is related to his in-service injury, and thus service connection for a back disability is granted.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's tinnitus is not related to his military service. For the low back disorder and heart disorder claims, additional medical opinions are needed as the current evidence does not address the Veteran's contentions regarding chemical exposure during service.

The Veteran's claims for earlier effective dates for increased ratings of his service-connected lumbar spine disability and gout have been granted. The effective dates are set as requested.

The Veteran's lumbar spine disability is currently rated at 10 percent, effective January 1, 2007. He also has a compensable evaluation for associated left lower extremity radiculopathy since August 24, 2015.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including obtaining VA treatment records and scheduling a new examination to determine if the Veteran's cervical degenerative disc disease is caused or aggravated by his lumbar spine arthritis or PTSD.

The Veteran's low back DDD was granted a rating of 40 percent effective November 17, 2014. However, service connection for his bilateral hip condition secondary to the low back disability was denied.

The Board has remanded the case due to the need for additional development, including obtaining service personnel records and medical records.

The Veteran's current back disability is etiologically related to his active service, and the Board grants service connection for a back disability.

The Board has determined that the Veteran does not have a currently diagnosed hip disorder, lumbar spine disorder, right knee disorder, or left knee disorder. Therefore, service connection for these conditions is denied.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development of his claims, including obtaining updated VA treatment records and any extant vocational rehabilitation records. The case will be readjudicated after the development.