Back / lumbar spine decisions — 2013

The Board has granted service connection for a scar on the forehead, finding that there is sufficient evidence to support this claim. The remaining issues are remanded for further development.

The Board has ordered additional development of the claims, including obtaining VA treatment records from 2010 to 2012. The appeal is now pending again with the Department of Veterans Affairs Regional Office.

The Veteran's claim for service connection of a low back disability is being remanded to the RO for further development and consideration.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's current low back and right shoulder disabilities are not related to his period of active military service, and thus denied both claims for service connection.

The Veteran's claims for TDIU and reopening of his service connection claim for lumbar fibromyositis with arthritis of the spine are being remanded due to procedural issues. The TDIU claim will be returned to the Board only after the issue of whether new and material evidence has been received is fully developed.

The Board has ordered a remand to obtain clarifying opinions from the VA examiner regarding the etiology of the Veteran's claimed low back and left shoulder disabilities. The case will be returned for further review.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development of his claims, including obtaining medical records and providing a VA examination to assess the impact of his service-connected disabilities on his employability.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's low back condition is related to his active service and granted service connection for degenerative joint disease of the lumbar spine.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection of a low back disorder, right tibia disorder, and hepatitis C. The decision found that new evidence did not raise a reasonable possibility of substantiating these claims.

The Veteran's lumbar spine strain is currently rated at 20 percent, effective March 1, 2006. The rating reflects the Veteran's pain and limited range of motion without ankylosis or other significant functional impairment.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining VA treatment records and arranging for examinations to assess the etiology of his cervical spine disability and right shoulder disability.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for a back disability, bilateral shoulder disability, and a disability identified as PDMS. The evidence does not support a finding that these conditions are related to his military service.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including a new VA examination to assess the severity of his service-connected low back disability and whether he has left and right lower extremity radiculopathy related to his service-connected low back disability.

The Veteran's low back disability is currently rated at 40 percent, effective December 23, 1978. The claim for an increased evaluation has been granted.

The Veteran's claims for service connection were denied as there is no competent medical evidence showing he currently has the claimed conditions.

The Board has received notification of the Veteran's withdrawal of his appeal regarding service connection for a psychiatric disability. The case is being remanded to obtain additional medical records and to schedule the Veteran for an examination to assess the etiology of any diagnosed low back disability.

The Board has determined that the Veteran does not have a current disability for which service connection can be granted, and therefore, his claims are denied.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's lumbar spine disorder, bilateral hearing loss, and tinnitus are not service-connected as they did not have their clinical onset in active service or are otherwise causally related to active service.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for thoracolumbar spine disability and hemorrhoids were denied. The Veteran's thoracolumbar spine disability was found to not warrant a rating greater than 20 percent prior to August 2, 2010 or greater than 40 percent since that date. His compensable rating for hemorrhoids was also denied.

The Board found that the Veteran's current low back disorders are not related to his service, and denied his claim for service connection.