Back / lumbar spine decisions — 2017

The Board found that the Veteran's asthma did not manifest during service and was not caused by service. The low back disorder also did not manifest within one year of separation from service or be otherwise related to military service.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for further development, including obtaining medical records and scheduling VA examinations to assess the etiology of his right great toe disability, as well as the severity of his headaches and scar residuals. The TDIU claim will also be developed.

The Board has determined that the Veteran does not have a current disability of the back that manifested during, or as a result of, active military service. The claim for service connection for a back disability is denied.

The Board has granted a 20 percent rating for the Veteran's costochondritis, claimed as chest pain, and has also found service connection for degenerative disc disease, claimed as a lower back condition.

The Veteran's claims for service connection have been withdrawn due to his request in a March 2017 statement.,The Veteran's claims for service connection and ratings related to hearing loss, psoriasis, and secondary disabilities are dismissed as the issues were withdrawn.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded to the AOJ for a Travel Board hearing at the appropriate RO. The case will be returned to the Board if further action is required.

The Board finds that the Veteran's lumbar spine disability is not service-connected and does not meet the criteria for a separate rating for arthritis of the bilateral knees. The claim for service connection for arthritis of the bilateral knees is dismissed as moot.

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

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for a left leg disorder other than a left knee disorder, hypertension, and low back disability. The evidence does not support finding these conditions were incurred in or aggravated by military service.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's cause of death is related to his active military service, granting service connection for the cause of the Veteran's death.

The Veteran's service-connected degenerative arthritis of the thoracolumbar spine was rated at 10 percent prior to October 24, 2016, and denied a higher rating.,Since October 24, 2016, the Veteran's disability has been rated at 20 percent and remains denied.

The Veteran's left heel spur condition was largely asymptomatic prior to June 27, 2016. For the period beginning June 27, 2016, his disability has been manifested by moderate symptomatology.,For the period beginning June 27, 2016, the Veteran's right shoulder condition was rated at 20 percent effective September 23, 2016. The rating is based on the severity of his symptoms and functional impairment.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's low back disorder is related to his active service, and therefore grants entitlement to service connection.

The Board has remanded the case for further development and examination to address the etiology of the Veteran's left knee and low back disabilities, as well as their relationship to his service-connected right knee disability.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for increased ratings for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus, as well as his claim for service connection for lumbar spondylosis. The Board found that there was no evidence to support higher disability ratings or service connection.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for a low back disorder due to his failure to report for scheduled VA examinations.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's degenerative joint disease of the lumbar spine warrants a 20 percent rating, and her radiculopathy of the right and left lower extremities each warrant separate 20 percent ratings.

The Veteran's service-connected lumbosacral strain is currently rated at 40 percent, the maximum schedular rating available. The Board finds that a higher rating is not warranted as all examiners have observed some measurable range of motion without favorable or unfavorable ankylosis.

The VA hospital care from September 2004 to December 2004 did not result in any additional disability of the back or neck, and no fault was found on the part of VA.

The Board is remanding the case for further development, including obtaining VA treatment records and conducting a VA back examination to determine if the Veteran's low back disability is related to his service.