Back / lumbar spine decisions — 2018

The Board has determined that the Veteran's current low back disability and associated neuropathy are not related to service, and thus denied his claim for service connection.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's current degenerative disc disease of the thoracolumbar spine is as likely as not etiologically related to a July 1965 lumbosacral strain incurred during active service, and thus grants service connection for this condition.

The Veteran's lumbar spine disability was rated at 40 percent effective March 6, 2013. The Board found that the evidence did not support a higher rating for any period.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's low back disability and TBI residuals are related to service, granting service connection for both conditions.

The Veteran's claim for an increased evaluation in excess of 20 percent for his degenerative disc disease of the thoracolumbar spine is being remanded due to the need for additional examinations and development.

The Veteran's lumbar and cervical spine disabilities, as well as his hemorrhoids, have been rated appropriately. The Board has granted separate ratings for left upper and lower extremity radiculopathy effective December 29, 2016.

The Veteran's claims for an earlier effective date and reopening of service connection claims were denied. The Board found that the evidence did not relate to unestablished facts necessary to substantiate the claims, or was not new and material.

The case is being remanded for the Veteran to undergo VA examinations to evaluate his service-connected lumbar spine disability, including range of motion testing as required by a recent Court decision. The claim will be readjudicated after this additional development.

The Board has determined that additional development is needed, including obtaining updated VA treatment records and scheduling the Veteran for a new examination to assess his current low back and cervical spine disabilities. The appeal will be remanded to the AOJ.

The Veteran's service-connected urinary stress incontinence does not meet the criteria for a higher rating, as it only requires wearing absorbent materials that must be changed less than two times per day. The other service-connected conditions have been rated based on their current manifestations.

The Board has remanded the case due to the need for new examinations and information regarding employment status. The issues of increased rating, compensable rating for bilateral hearing loss, and TDIU are in dispute.

The Board has decided to remand the case for further development, including obtaining private medical records and scheduling a VA examination.

The Veteran's claim for a higher rating for his lumbosacral strain with multilevel degenerative disc disease with compression fracture L-1 is being remanded due to the need for additional examination and evaluation of his disability.

The Board has granted the Veteran's claims of service connection for respiratory, cervical, low back, bilateral knee, and bilateral shoulder disorders.

The Veteran's appeal has been dismissed as he withdrew his appeals for the issues of entitlement to service connection for a left shoulder condition, back condition, left leg condition, right leg condition, and an acquired psychiatric disorder.

The Veteran is seeking service connection for degenerative joint disease of the lumbar spine, which he contends is related to his service-connected left knee replacement. The Board has determined that a remand is necessary due to inadequate medical opinion regarding whether the Veteran's current lumbar spine condition is proximately due to or aggravated by his service-connected left knee replacement.

The appellant's service-connected disabilities rendered him unable to secure and follow a substantially gainful occupation from July 24, 2012, to June 30, 2015.

The Veteran's acquired psychiatric condition, diagnosed as schizophrenia, is not service-connected. The VA examiner found no evidence of a nexus between the Veteran's in-service stressors and his current symptoms.

The Veteran's low back disorder is found to be related to his military service, and he is granted service connection for accrued benefit purposes.,For the left knee chondromalacia, a rating in excess of 10 percent is denied.

The Board found that the Veteran's tinnitus is likely due to noise exposure during service and has been recurrent since then. Service connection for tinnitus was granted. The back condition (scoliosis) remains unresolved as an addendum opinion is needed.