Back / lumbar spine Board decisions

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for a new VA examination to assess the severity of his lumbosacral strain and any neurological component.

The Veteran's claim for a compensable rating for rheumatoid arthritis, multiple joints was denied as there is no evidence of the condition. The issues of service connection for bilateral shoulder disability, right hip disability, left hip disability (status-post hip replacement), and lumbar spine disability are addressed in the REMAND portion of this decision.

The Board has reopened the Veteran's claim for service connection for a low back condition, finding that new and material evidence had been received. The Board also found that the Veteran's current low back condition is related to his in-service injury.

The Veteran's appeal for a higher rating for thoracolumbar spine disability has been dismissed as the Veteran withdrew her appeal during the hearing.

The Board has restored the Veteran's original 40 percent rating for his service-connected degenerative changes of the thoracolumbar spine (T12-L5) with flexion ankylosis, effective December 1, 2009. The Veteran is also granted TDIU.

The Veteran's claims for service connection and increased rating for his claimed conditions have been denied. The Board found that the submitted evidence was not new and material to reopen the claim of service connection, and did not meet the criteria for an evaluation in excess of 50 percent for generalized anxiety disorder.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for a back disability has been reopened.,Service connection for blindness in the right eye is denied as there is no evidence of an in-service injury or disease that caused the current condition.

The Board is remanding the case to obtain additional development and determine whether new evidence has been presented to reopen a previously denied claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss, as well as other issues related to exposure to Agent Orange and other conditions.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings and effective dates were denied, but the Board remanded them for further development.,Service connection was granted for right ankle traumatic arthritis with an effective date of November 14, 2006.

The Veteran's service connection claims for PTSD, an acquired psychiatric disorder other than PTSD, a left hip disorder, and a low back disorder are all granted. The claims for numbness of the hands and feet are denied.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not result in loss or permanent loss of use of one or both feet, hands, knees, or hips. The Board denied the claim as the criteria for automobile and adaptive equipment or adaptive equipment only have not been met.

The Veteran's claim for an increased rating for bilateral pes planus was granted, with a current evaluation of 30 percent effective March 21, 2009. The claim for service connection for lumbosacral strain secondary to bilateral pes planus remains pending.

The Veteran's service-connected degenerative disc disease of the lumbar spine is rated at 20 percent, and he is granted separate evaluations for right- and left-sided mild incomplete paralysis of the sciatic nerve.

The Board found that the Veteran's current low back disability was not incurred in or aggravated by his active service and is not proximately due to or the result of service-connected grand mal seizure disorder.

The Veteran's claim for a higher disability rating for lumbosacral strain with degenerative disc disease was remanded due to the need for additional development, including an orthopedic/neurological medical examination and X-rays. The case is now being returned to the Board for readjudication.

The Veteran's claims for higher initial ratings for DDD of the cervical and lumbar spine were denied as his conditions did not meet the criteria for a rating in excess of 20 percent under the effective September 23, 2002 or September 26, 2003 rating criteria.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for lumbar degenerative disc disease with chronic pain is being remanded due to the need to obtain Social Security Administration (SSA) records.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims of service connection for right ear hearing loss and residuals of a low back injury due to lack of evidence showing current disabilities or a link between service and these conditions.

The Board has determined that the Veteran does not have a current low back disorder, right hand disorder, bilateral knee disorder, upper back disorder, or left ankle disorder. The Veteran's service treatment records do not show any chronic conditions related to his military service and there is no competent medical evidence linking these disorders to his period of active duty.

The Board has granted service connection for a low back disorder based on aggravation of a pre-existing condition, and has also found that the Veteran is entitled to TDIU due to his service-connected disabilities.