Back / lumbar spine decisions — 2017

The Board has determined that the Veteran's low back disability and bilateral hearing loss do not meet the criteria for service connection or higher initial ratings, respectively.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities did not render him unable to secure or follow substantially gainful employment for the period prior to September 25, 2013.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's current low back disorder did not manifest during service and was not caused by any in-service disease, injury, or event. The Veteran's ganglion cyst of the right wrist is characterized by dorsiflexion of greater than 15 degrees and plantar flexion not limited in line with the forearm.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's low back and right hip disabilities are secondary to his service-connected right knee disability, warranting service connection.

The Board has remanded the case due to inadequate examination reports and failure to address pain during flareups. The Veteran is required to undergo a VA examination for his lumbar spine degenerative disc disease.

The Board finds that the Veteran does not have a lumbar spine disability due to any incident of his active duty service, including as a residual of an in-service gunshot wound.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities have precluded substantially gainful employment consistent with his education and occupational experience since April 10, 2008.

The Veteran's claim for a total disability evaluation based on individual unemployability due to service-connected disabilities is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining his VA Vocational Rehabilitation file and scheduling him for an examination to assess the impact of his service-connected conditions on his employability.

The Board found that the Veteran's current spondylosis deformans and slight levoscoliosis of the lumbar spine did not meet the criteria for service connection as they are not causally related to service, including an in-service back numbness complaint. The condition is considered a direct result of the Veteran's military service.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including PTSD, bilateral knees, and low back, have rendered him unable to obtain or maintain substantial gainful employment from September 27, 2010, through May 31, 2014. He is now employed as a service technician.

The Veteran's claim for increased ratings for lumbosacral strain and related conditions is being remanded due to the need for additional development, including a VA examination.

The Veteran's low back disability, rated as 20 percent disabling since January 24, 2012, is found to meet the criteria for a higher rating of 40 percent.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including a VA examination to assess the severity of his service-connected low back strain and any other diagnosed low back disorders. The issue of service connection for low back disorders other than low back strain will also be addressed.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's low back disability and depression are related to his service-connected disabilities, leading to a grant of service connection for both conditions.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for his service-connected lumbar spine and left knee disabilities are being remanded due to the need for additional examinations.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for a bilateral knee disability and remanded his claims for service connection for a lumbar spine disability and an initial rating for right ankle disability due to lack of contemporaneous VA examination. The Veteran is also required to provide evidence that his current conditions are related to his active duty service.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's low back disability is at least as likely as not caused by his service-connected left knee disability, and thus grants service connection for this condition on a secondary basis.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's low back disability is secondary to his service-connected right knee disability, and thus grants service connection for degenerative arthritis of the lumbar spine.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for further development, including obtaining an addendum opinion regarding the etiology of his neck and back disabilities and headaches.

The Board has decided to remand the Veteran's claim for service connection for a back disorder due to insufficient medical opinion regarding its etiology and incomplete VA examination records. The case will be returned to the AOJ for further development.