Back / lumbar spine decisions — 2012

The Board has dismissed the appeal for service connection for epilepsy due to withdrawal by the appellant. The claims for diabetes mellitus, back disability, allergies, hemorrhoids, and hepatitis C have been denied as there is no evidence of a nexus between these conditions and military service.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded due to his request for a personal hearing. The case will be returned to the Board after the scheduled hearing.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's low back disorder and right heel disorder are directly related to his active service, granting service connection for these conditions. The claims for service connection for right ankle and left ankle disorders (other than calcaneal spurs) have not been met due to lack of a current disability.

The Board has remanded the case due to issues related to tinnitus and lumbar spine degenerative disc disease. The Veteran's claims for these conditions are pending.

The Board has remanded the claims due to incomplete information regarding the Veteran's periods of active duty for training during his Army Reserve service. Additional evidence is needed, and a VA medical examination may be required to determine if further assistance is needed.

The Veteran's service-connected ruptured lumbar disc with degenerative disc disease, intervertebral disc syndrome is not manifested by unfavorable ankylosis of the entire thoracolumbar spine or incapacitating episodes having a total duration of at least 6 weeks during the past 12 months. Therefore, his claim for increased rating and TDIU remains denied.

The Veteran requested a hearing, but failed to appear. The appeal for increased ratings for degenerative arthritis of both hands with Heberden's nodes and service connection for a low back disability has been withdrawn.

The Veteran's claim for an increased rating for his service-connected lumbosacral strain with arthritis and degenerative joint and disc disease was denied. The current disability is rated at 20 percent, which reflects the limitation of forward flexion to a degree that does not meet the criteria for higher ratings under the General Rating Formula for Diseases and Injuries of the Spine.

The Board denied service connection for low back and bilateral knee disabilities, as well as a rating in excess of 10 percent for hiatal hernia. The Veteran's complaints were noted during service but no chronic conditions were diagnosed.,Service connection was not granted for tinnitus due to lack of evidence showing it became manifest in service.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's current back disabilities are not proximately due to or aggravated by his service-connected right ankle disability, and therefore denied the claim for secondary service connection.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for further development, including obtaining medical opinions and conducting additional examinations to address the nature and etiology of his bilateral knee, shoulder, and headache disabilities, as well as the severity of his service-connected right thoracolumbar strain.

The Board finds that the Veteran's current low back disability is related to an injury in service and grants service connection for a variously diagnosed low back disability.

The Veteran's appeals for increased ratings and service connection have been denied. The Board found that the evidence did not support granting any of her requested increases or establishing service connection for a cervical spine disability.

The Board has remanded the case due to incomplete medical records and requests for additional information. The Veteran's claim for service connection for a lumbar spine disability will be reconsidered.

The case is being remanded for additional development of the Veteran's claims, including obtaining medical records and scheduling VA examinations.

The Board finds that the Veteran's currently diagnosed back disability is related to a post-service injury, and therefore service connection for a back disability is not warranted.

The Board has remanded the case due to incomplete records and issues related to verifying a claimed stressor for PTSD.

The Board has dismissed the Veteran's appeal regarding service connection for peripheral neuropathy of the upper and lower extremities, erectile dysfunction, and a low back disorder. The claims were withdrawn by the Veteran in October 2011. Service connection was denied for hypertension due to lack of evidence linking it to service or any other condition. Service connection was also denied for a low back disorder due to lack of evidence linking it to service.

The Veteran's service-connected degenerative disc disease of the lumbar spine is not manifested by either unfavorable ankylosis of the entire thoracolumbar spine, or incapacitating episodes having a total duration of at least six weeks during the past 12 months. Therefore, his claim for an evaluation in excess of 40 percent has been denied.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining VA treatment records and Social Security Administration disability determination records. A new VA examination will be scheduled to assess the nature and etiology of any diagnosed back disabilities and the severity of his service-connected right knee disability.