Back / lumbar spine decisions — 2017

The Board finds that the Veteran's scoliosis of the thoracolumbar spine is service-connected, as it was not shown to be congenital and first manifested during active service. The Board also finds that the Veteran's IVDS with degenerative arthritis of the thoracolumbar spine is less likely than not caused by or aggravated by his service-connected scoliosis.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims of entitlement to service connection for right knee disorder, left knee disorder, and back disorder. The evidence did not support a finding that these conditions were incurred in or aggravated by military service.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's current low back disability is not related to his active service and therefore denied his claim for service connection.

The Veteran's appeal is REMANDED to the AOJ for further development, including consideration of the Formula for Rating IVDS Based on Incapacitating Episodes and whether he has been engaged in substantially gainful employment.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral leg radiculopathy and an acquired psychiatric disorder, including depression, as secondary to her service-connected conditions. The appeal is remanded for further development.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, when evaluated in association with his educational attainment and occupational experience, preclude all forms of gainful employment. The Board grants TDIU on an extraschedular basis.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for further development, including scheduling a live videoconference hearing at the local RO.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for increased ratings and earlier effective dates, finding that his service-connected conditions did not meet the criteria for higher ratings or earlier effective dates.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including obtaining Social Security Administration and Workmen's Compensation records. The Veteran's claims will be reconsidered based on the evidence of record.

The Veteran's low back disability and associated radiculopathies have been granted an initial evaluation of 20 percent, effective February 4, 2011.

The Veteran's intervertebral disc disease is currently rated at 40 percent, and the claim for a higher rating is denied.,For the period from June 13, 2006 to April 4, 2015, the Veteran was granted an initial disability rating of 20 percent for his right lower extremity radiculopathy. From April 5, 2015, he is now rated at 30 percent.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient evidence and a need for an examination. The Veteran's claim of service connection for a low back disability is pending.

The Veteran's service connection claims for IBS, GERD, and erectile dysfunction have been granted. The claim for bilateral hearing loss disability is denied. Service connection has also been established for a low back disability and a headache disability (to include as due to 8th nerve damage).

The Veteran's lumbar spine disability is rated at 20 percent, effective January 19, 2013, for left lower extremity radiculopathy. The rating for the lumbar spondylosis remains at 20 percent.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's DDD of the lumbar spine and left hip DJD were not incurred in or aggravated by service, and arthritis has not been presumed to have been incurred therein.

The Board found that the Veteran's current low back disability is less likely than not related to an in-service injury and denied his claim for service connection.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded due to the need for additional development of medical records from Northwest Mississippi Regional Medical Center.

The Veteran's appeal of entitlement to service connection for a left shoulder disability was dismissed due to the Veteran withdrawing his claim.

The Board has remanded the case due to the Veteran's request for a Travel Board hearing, and the claim is not about service connection at all.

The Veteran requested to withdraw his claim for an evaluation in excess of 20 percent for degenerative disc disease, cervical spine.