Back / lumbar spine Board decisions

The Board found no evidence of a low back injury or disease during service and denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for both her low back disability and hypertension.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining VA treatment records and scheduling the Veteran with a VA examination to determine the nature and etiology of his low back and left foot disabilities. Additionally, he will be scheduled for another VA examination to assess the severity of his service-connected PTSD with alcohol abuse.

The Board found that the Veteran's current lumbar spine disability is not due to his service or a service-connected condition, and thus denied his claim for service connection.

The Board found that the Veteran's left knee, hip, and low back disorders were not incurred or aggravated by service or service-connected conditions. The evidence did not establish a direct connection to service.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for further development, including obtaining additional medical records and a VA examination to determine if his service-connected disabilities render him in need of regular aid and attendance or housebound.

The Board has determined that the Veteran is entitled to an annual clothing allowance due to his use of a right-knee brace and back brace for service-connected disabilities, as well as skin medication applied on his torso. The decision resolves all doubts in favor of the Veteran.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for multiple myeloma has been reopened. His erectile dysfunction is not compensable, but his neuritis of the left and right lower extremities are rated at 20% and 40%, respectively. The Veteran's lumbar spine strain remains at a non-compensable rating.

The Veteran's appeal includes claims for various disabilities, including a right elbow disability, back disability, hand disorder, hearing loss, headaches, swollen glands, female problems and menstrual disorders, abdominal pain (residuals of hysterectomy), hypertension, left arm pain, right arm pain, left wrist pain, right hand pain, left knee pain, right knee pain, and bilateral foot disorder. The claims are being remanded for further development and consideration.

The Veteran's claim for an earlier effective date for the award of a 20 percent disability rating for a tender scar below naval was denied. The Board found that there is no evidence within one year prior to September 24, 2013 indicating an increase in severity.,The Veteran's claim for an increased initial rating for her lower back disability was denied. The Board determined that the current level of disability does not warrant a higher rating based on the criteria set forth in the Rating Schedule.

The Board has ordered a remand for further development and examination of the Veteran's service-connected IVDS disability, including range of motion testing. The case will be returned to the RO for readjudication.

The Board finds that the Veteran's heart or chest pain disorder is not related to service and is not caused by his service-connected anxiety disorder.

The Veteran's prostate disability is service-connected as secondary to his service-connected left varicocele. The low back disability claim remains pending, and the initial compensable rating for the left varicocele has been granted.

The Board found no evidence of a chronic back disability or radiculopathy in the right foot that is related to service. The Veteran's current complaints do not meet the criteria for service connection.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection, rating higher than 10 percent for residuals of a fracture of the 4th toe of the left foot with Morton's neuroma, and nonservice-connected pension due to additional development being required.

The Board found that the Veteran's current low back disorder did not have its onset during service or within one year of service, and is not otherwise causally connected to active service. The evidence does not support a finding of service connection.

The Veteran's lumbar spine disability was evaluated as 20 percent disabling prior to March 26, 2013 and from June 1, 2013. The claim for a higher rating is denied.,For the period of November 16, 2009 until March 26, 2013, the Veteran's lumbar radiculopathy was evaluated as 10 percent disabling. The claim for a higher rating is denied.

The Veteran's lumbar spine disability is currently rated at 30 percent, but the evidence does not support a higher rating.

The Veteran's claims for increased evaluations for lumbar strain and left lower extremity radiculopathy are being remanded due to the need to obtain additional VA treatment records.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, when evaluated in association with his educational attainment and occupational experience, precluded all forms of substantially gainful employment beginning December 1, 2012. Effective December 1, 2012, but not earlier, the criteria are met for the award of TDIU.

The Board has granted the Veteran's claims for service connection for right shoulder condition, left shoulder condition, and lower back condition. The evidence is in equipoise as to the question of continuous symptoms with regard to these conditions.