Back / lumbar spine decisions — 2017

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional examinations and development to determine the severity of his service-connected cervical spine spondylosis, lumbar spine degenerative joint disease, bilateral shoulder disorder (claimed as Degenerative Joint Disease), bilateral knee disorder (claimed as Degenerative Joint Disease), bilateral plantar fasciitis, and bilateral hearing loss. The Veteran also needs a new examination to determine the etiology of his claimed disabilities.

The Veteran's tinnitus is found to be related to service, and the Board grants service connection for this condition. The other issues are not addressed due to lack of evidence or further development needed.

The Veteran's thoracolumbar spine disability was granted service connection and assigned a 10 percent rating effective October 14, 2010. The claim for an increased initial rating is granted.

The Board found that the Veteran's upper back and lower back disabilities did not begin in or were caused by his active duty service. The stomach disability was not addressed as it is unclear if it was part of the appeal.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's current low back disability is not causally or etiologically related to his military service, and thus denied his claim for service connection.

The Veteran's service-connected anxiety disorder, depression with adjustment disorder is found to be secondary to his service-connected cervical degenerative disc disease. The Board also granted a TDIU rating based on the Veteran's service-connected disabilities.

The Board denied service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder other than PTSD and a back disability, finding that the evidence did not support a direct relationship to service.

The Veteran is unemployable due to her service-connected major depressive disorder, low back strain with sciatica, right knee retropatellar pain syndrome with arthritis, right hip bursitis, right hip limitation of extension, and right hip limitation of flexion; all of which are a combined rating of 80 percent disabling.

The Board found that the Veteran's current low back disability did not manifest during or as a result of his military service.

The Veteran's service-connected knee and back disabilities are not sufficiently incapacitating to prevent him from obtaining or maintaining substantially gainful employment.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's bilateral carpal tunnel syndrome, gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD), and low back disorder are not related to his military service. The evidence does not support a finding of service connection for these conditions.

The Veteran's lumbosacral strain is currently rated at 40 percent, which is the maximum schedular rating available. The Board finds that his symptoms do not warrant a higher rating as they do not meet the criteria for unfavorable ankylosis or incapacitating episodes of IVDS.

The Board found that the Veteran's current low back disability and residuals of tailbone contusion are not related to his military service, thus denying service connection for these conditions.

The Board found that the Veteran's low back disability did not meet the criteria for service connection as it was pre-existing and not aggravated by service. The bilateral lower extremity pain and numbness were also denied as secondary to a pre-existing low back disability.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's current dry eyes are not etiologically related to service, and his photophobia is a symptom of a nonservice-connected disability. Therefore, the claim for service connection for a bilateral eye disorder is denied.

The Veteran's back and neck disabilities have been granted service connection, with a rating of 10 percent effective December 14, 2009.

The Veteran's service-connected lumbosacral strain with radicular pain in both lower extremities does not meet the criteria for a rating higher than 20 percent.

The Veteran's appeal for service connection of a low back disability has been dismissed due to his death.

The Veteran's lumbar spine disability is rated at 40 percent, and he was granted TDIU prior to March 16, 2011. The claim for an increased rating for left hip and pelvis degenerative joint disease remains pending.

The Veteran's lumbar strain disability is currently rated at 20 percent, and the Board has granted a higher rating for radiculopathy of the left lower extremity as secondary to service-connected lumbar strain. The claim for an increased rating for lumbar strain remains pending.