Back / lumbar spine Board decisions

The Board has determined that additional development is needed in order to make a determination on the Veteran's claims for service connection and increased evaluation of his hearing disability and lumbar spine disorder.

The Veteran's service-connected degenerative disc disease of the lumbosacral spine and associated radiculopathy have been rated at 20 percent, with separate ratings for right and left lower extremity radiculopathy. The appeal is denied as there are no additional factors warranting an extra-schedular rating.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including obtaining updated VA treatment records and arranging for an orthopedic examination to determine the likely etiology of the Veteran's low back disability. The examiner must provide opinions on whether the Veteran's low back disability is related to service or her service-connected bilateral foot disabilities.

The Board has remanded the case for further development, including an examination to determine the etiology of the Veteran's current lumbar spine disability and whether it is at least as likely as not that the Veteran would have had degenerative joint disease but for his parachute jumps in service.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's bilateral hip disorder and lumbar spine disorder are related to his active military service.

The Veteran's degenerative disc disease of the lumbar spine is rated at 40 percent, effective July 2, 2010. The Board also granted a TDIU based on his service-connected disabilities.

The Veteran's claim for an increased evaluation for residuals, lower back strain, with central disc herniation at L5-S1 was granted. The Veteran is currently rated at 40 percent for this condition.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities meet the schedular criteria for a TDIU, and the evidence is at least in equipoise that he is unemployable due to his lumbar spine disability. Therefore, entitlement to a TDIU is granted.

The Board found that a back disorder was not incurred in or aggravated by the Veteran's active duty military service, did not manifest within one year of service discharge, and was not caused or aggravated by his service-connected Pellegrini-Stieda of the left knee and/or Osgood-Schlatter's disease of the right knee.

The Veteran's lumbar spine degenerative disc disease was not found to warrant a rating in excess of 20 percent, as his range of motion did not meet the criteria for a higher evaluation under the General Rating Formula for Diseases and Injuries of the Spine. His right and left leg neuritis were each rated at 10 percent.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's current back disability, including spondylolisthesis and spina bifida occulta, is due to a superimposed disease or injury during service. As such, service connection for this condition is granted.

The Board has remanded the case for further development, including obtaining private treatment records and scheduling a VA examination to determine if the Veteran's low back disability is related to service.

The Veteran's lumbar spine disability is currently rated as 20 percent disabling, and she has mild right lower extremity radiculopathy related to her lumbar spine disability. The rating for the lumbar spine disability remains unchanged.

The Veteran's claim for a TDIU is being remanded due to the need for further development, including an examination and completion of VA Form 21-8940.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining SSA records and VA treatment records from the VA Northern California Health Care System. A more contemporaneous VA examination to assess the current severity of his lumbar spine disability must be conducted.

The Board has granted service connection for right hip sclerosis. The remaining issues on appeal are remanded for further development.

The Board has reopened the Veteran's claim of service connection for a psychiatric disability and granted it. The Veteran is now entitled to VA benefits related to this condition.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for aseptic meningitis was denied in May 2008, and the decision is final. New evidence received since that time does not raise a reasonable possibility of substantiating the claim.,Service connection for degenerative lumbar spine disease and associated bilateral lower extremity radiculopathy has been granted with ratings of 10% each.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities prevent him from securing and following a substantially gainful occupation.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for a low back disability has been denied. The issue of whether the severance of service connection for generalized anxiety disorder (claimed as PTSD) was proper is currently unresolved, and his claim for an initial compensable rating for generalized anxiety disorder from April 29, 2009 to August 1, 2012 remains denied.