Back / lumbar spine decisions — 2012

The Veteran does not have any diagnosed disabilities of the hands, feet, legs, back or neck that are related to service. The Board finds no evidence supporting a connection between current symptoms and military service.

The Board has decided to remand the case for further development and clarification of the VA examiner's opinion regarding the continuity of symptoms since service.

The Veteran's service-connected psychiatric, right ankle, and lumbar spine disabilities have rendered him unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation since April 4, 1990.

The Veteran's claims for service connection are being remanded due to the need for additional development, including obtaining VA treatment records and scheduling a more contemporaneous VA examination.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining his service personnel records, Social Security Administration records, and post-May 2010 VA treatment records. The hearing request remains pending.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's current musculoskeletal disabilities, including left foot disability, low back disability, neck disability, left leg disability (including radiculopathy), left ankle disability, bilateral shoulder disability, bilateral elbow disability, and bilateral hand disability are related to a motor vehicle accident during service. As such, these conditions have been granted as service-connected.

The Veteran's low back strain is service-connected as secondary to her service-connected left ankle disability.,Prior to October 26, 2009, the Veteran's GERD was rated at 10 percent. As of October 26, 2009, a higher rating of 30 percent is granted.

The Veteran's claims for higher initial ratings for PTSD, hemorrhoids, and tinea versicolor and seborrheic dermatitis have been granted. The effective dates are as follows: PTSD from February 2, 2001; hemorrhoids from August 29, 2000; and tinea versicolor and seborrheic dermatitis from December 26, 2006.

The Veteran's claims of service connection for various disabilities, including a headache, hearing loss, neck disability, low back disability, right ankle disability, left ankle disability, and eye disability, were denied as there is no evidence of current diagnoses or in-service incurrence.

The Board found no evidence to support the Veteran's claims for service connection of a bilateral hip disability, low back disability, or neck disability. The preponderance of the evidence is against these claims.

The Board has reopened the claims for service connection for muscle tension headaches, sinusitis, allergies and hay fever, and back disability as secondary to service-connected TMJ disease, right jaw tumor residuals.,An effective date prior to December 29, 1978, is not warranted for the award of service connection for right 5th cranial nerve numbness, right jaw tumor residual.

The Board has determined that further development is needed to address the Veteran's claims for service connection, including obtaining medical opinions regarding the etiology of his claimed conditions.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims of service connection for bilateral hearing loss disability, lumbar spine disorder, and stiffness of joints due to lack of evidence linking these conditions to service.

The Board found that the Veteran does not have a current lumbar spine disability related to his active service, and thus denied his claim for service connection.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development due to missing service treatment records and other relevant medical evidence.

The Board has decided to remand the case for additional development, including obtaining SSA records and scheduling a VA examination for the Veteran's left knee disorder.

The Veteran's claims for PTSD, bilateral knee disorders, and a low back disorder have been granted. The Board found that the Veteran has diagnosed PTSD related to his service in Kuwait, consistent with fear of hostile military activity.

The Board has decided to remand this case for further development, including scheduling a VA examination and obtaining additional medical records.

The Board has determined that service connection for lumbar spine degenerative disc disease with a compression fracture of the L3 vertebra is granted as it meets the criteria for direct service connection.

The Veteran's claims for neck and back disorders are being remanded due to the need for additional medical records, personnel file review, and a VA examination.