Back / lumbar spine Board decisions

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for back and right shoulder disabilities due to a failure to ensure compliance with the duty to assist, requiring additional medical treatment records from the St. Louis VA Medical Center.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient evidence and a need for further examination.

The Veteran's major affective disorder with intermittent explosive disorder is rated at 100 percent, hypertension at 10 percent, gastritis at 10 percent, and lumbosacral strain at 10 percent throughout the claims period. The Veteran's service-connected conditions have resulted in total occupational and social impairment.

The Veteran's claim for an increased rating in excess of 20 percent for his lumbar spondylolisthesis is being remanded due to the need for a new VA examination and consideration of the most recent rating criteria.

The Board found no evidence of a relationship between the Veteran's current degenerative disc disease of the cervical spine and his military service, nor did it support a finding that this condition was caused or aggravated by his service-connected chronic myofascial strain of the cervical spine and right trapezius muscle.

The Veteran's lumbar spine strain with degenerative changes of L3-L4 is currently rated at 20 percent, effective March 24, 2006. The claim for an increased rating is denied as the disability does not meet the criteria for a higher rating.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, a bilateral knee disability, a bilateral hip disability, and a low back disability have all been denied. The Board found no evidence of current disabilities or a nexus to service.

The Board finds that the Veteran's degenerative arthritis of the lumbar spine was not incurred or aggravated by service, and may not be presumed to have been incurred in or aggravated by service.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development of his claims, including obtaining his service treatment records and private medical records.

The Veteran's claims for service connection are being remanded due to the need for additional examinations and development of records.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded to the RO for further consideration, including obtaining updated treatment records and scheduling VA examinations.

The Board has granted service connection for a right arm scar and found that the Veteran's hypertension and cervical spine degenerative disc disease are related to his active duty service.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings were granted, but the specific disability ratings are not provided in this decision. The Veteran is entitled to an initial rating of 10 percent for chondromalacia, right patella, status post meniscectomy and chronic low back pain prior to April 11, 2005, and a 40 percent rating from that date. He is also entitled to a 10 percent rating for residuals of an injury to the right middle finger with amputation of the tip.

The Veteran's service-connected thoracolumbar spine disability is rated at 40 percent, encompassing both lower extremity radiculopathy. The appeal for higher ratings or TDIU remains pending.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's kidney disorder and back pain are service-connected, with no indication of aggravation during service.

The Board denied service connection for low back and right knee disabilities, as well as the reopening of claims for left knee and ventral hernia. The Veteran's current conditions are not found to be related to his military service.

The Board found no evidence linking the Veteran's current degenerative changes of the lumbar spine to his military service or any service-connected disability. The claim was denied.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for further development, including VA examinations to assess the severity of his PTSD and lumbar spine disability. The Veteran is seeking higher ratings effective from the date service connection was granted.

The Veteran's low back strain with degenerative joint disease was rated at 10 percent prior to April 22, 2009 and at 20 percent from that date. The appeal is granted.

The Veteran's appeals for service connection for PTSD, and initial ratings for depressive disorder, low back disability, and right foot/ankle disability have been withdrawn. The claims are dismissed.