Back / lumbar spine decisions — 2012

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for a back disability and an increased rating for his hearing loss. The case is remanded to obtain additional medical records, clarify the examiner's opinion regarding the pars defect, and issue a supplemental statement of the case.

The Board finds that the Veteran's current lumbar spine condition is not related to his service injury or military service, and thus denies the claim for service connection.

The Board has remanded the case due to conflicting medical findings and a need for further clarification on whether the Veteran has lumbar radiculopathy into either or both lower extremities associated with his service-connected low back disability.

The Board found that the Veteran's current low back disorder did not originate in service or until years thereafter, and is otherwise not related to service.

The Veteran's claim for an increased rating for a left foot disability was granted, and he is now receiving the maximum schedular rating available. The Board also granted his claims for service connection for various orthopedic disabilities and anxiety disorder, as well as TDIU.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims of service connection for a back disability and hip disability, finding that there is no evidence of a chronic condition during or within one year after service, and that any current conditions are not related to service.

The Board is remanding the claims for further development due to the need to obtain additional medical records and personnel/administrative records from Fort Ord Medical Clinic, as well as a VA examination regarding the etiology of the Veteran's bilateral knee disability.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for scheduling an additional hearing before a Veterans Law Judge at the Boston RO. The claims will be returned to the Board following completion of this action.

The Board found that the Veteran's additional disabilities were not caused by VA treatment, and thus denied his claims under 38 U.S.C.A. § 1151.

The Veteran's lumbar spine disability is found to be service-connected. The cervical, left leg, right leg, left hip, and right hip disabilities are not service-connected.

The Board is remanding the claims for further development due to the need for a VA examination and medical nexus opinions regarding the Veteran's claimed conditions, as well as for obtaining relevant service records and treatment records.

The appeal has been dismissed due to the appellant's withdrawal of his appeal.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for a psychiatric disability and to reopen his claim for low back disability. The decision is final as it pertained to the original denial of service connection.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for psychiatric disability was denied as he does not have a current psychiatric disorder. The low back disability rating remains unchanged.

The Board has granted service connection for hypothyroidism and Hashimoto's thyroiditis, but denied service connection for obesity. The Veteran's diabetes mellitus, lumbar spine disability, and bilateral knee disabilities are not considered to be directly related to his military service.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining Social Security Administration records and scheduling VA examinations to assess his service-connected hemiparesis conditions.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including obstructive sleep apnea, coronary artery disease, diabetes mellitus with diabetic retinopathy and cataracts, lumbar strain, diabetic peripheral neuropathy of the lower extremities, hypertension, and sciatic radiculopathy, require him to use a wheelchair for mobility. As such, he is eligible for specially adapted housing.

The Veteran's claim for service connection of a back disorder is remanded due to the need for additional medical examination and development.

The Veteran's appeal for an increase in the evaluation of his lumbosacral strain with degenerative disc disease was dismissed due to the death of the Veteran.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining VA and Social Security Administration records, scheduling a VA examination, and considering the issues of TDIU.