Back / lumbar spine decisions — 2013

The Board has determined that the appellant's current low back disabilities are not related to his National Guard service, and thus denied his claim for service connection.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's left shoulder and cervical/lumbar spine disabilities are not service-connected as they did not manifest during active duty or within one year of separation, and there is no evidence of continuity of symptomatology. The VA examinations concluded that these conditions are less likely related to his military service.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims of service connection for diabetes mellitus, vision disability, and back disability. The evidence did not show a link between these conditions and his military service.,Service connection was not granted as there is no medical evidence showing that any of these disabilities were incurred or aggravated by service.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's claims of entitlement to service connection for right hip disability and a total rating based on individual unemployability are inextricably intertwined. The case is being remanded for further development, including obtaining additional medical opinions and adjudication of both issues.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for his lumbar spine disability, left and right lower extremity radiculopathy were denied as the evidence did not show that his disabilities warranted a higher rating.

The Board found that the evidence did not support service connection for a herniated disc or any current low back disability, and thus denied the claim.

The Board has determined that the VA examiner's opinion is inadequate and a new examination is needed to determine if the Veteran's current low back disability is related to his in-service injury. The Veteran must provide copies of any outstanding medical records for this purpose.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's low back disorder is not related to his active service, and therefore denied his claim for service connection.

The Board has granted service connection for headaches and found that the Veteran's current headaches are related to his service. The Veteran withdrew from consideration his appeals regarding right ear hearing loss and higher initial evaluations for major depression, right ankle disability, back disability, and left shoulder disability.

The Board has reopened the claim of service connection for spondylosis of the thoracolumbar spine and found a right knee disorder was incurred in active military service. The decision on service connection for the right knee is mixed, with some issues granted and others not.

The Board has reopened the Veteran's claims for service connection of a lower back condition, bilateral knee condition, and PTSD. The claim for PTSD is granted as there is credible supporting evidence of an in-service personal assault.

The Board found that there is no evidence to support service connection for degenerative disc disease of the lumbar spine or trochanteric bursitis of the hips, as these conditions were not shown to have had onset during service and are not otherwise related to an injury, disease, or event in service. The Veteran's current diagnoses predate her military service.

The Board has determined that a VA examination is needed to evaluate the veteran's claimed right knee, lumbar spine, and right leg disabilities. The case will be remanded for this purpose.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded due to his failure to report for a scheduled Board hearing. He was not provided adequate notice of the hearing and needs another opportunity to testify.

The Board has determined that new and material evidence has been received to reopen the claim of service connection for a lumbar spine disability. The Veteran's current degenerative joint disease of the lumbar spine is related to his military service, and he has consistently reported this injury since separation from active duty.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including obtaining personnel records and providing an addendum medical opinion regarding the etiology of the Veteran's lumbar spine disability.

The Board has determined that a VA examination is needed to determine if the Veteran's current back disability is related to his military service. The case will be remanded for this purpose.

The Board found that the Veteran does not have a current right hip disability and therefore denied his claim for service connection.

The Board found that the Veteran did not submit new and material evidence to reopen his claims for service connection for a psychiatric disorder, back disorder, and stomach disorder. The evidence submitted by the Veteran was deemed insufficient to establish a relationship between any current disability and active service or a service-connected condition.

The Board has restored the Veteran's original 10 percent rating for peptic ulcer disease, and denied service connection for a lumbar spine disorder, nasal/sinus disorder, and hiatal hernia with reflux esophagitis. The claim for an increased rating for peptic ulcer disease is granted.