Back / lumbar spine decisions — 2013

The Board found that the Veteran's claimed lumbar strain with DDD of the thoracolumbar spine, cervical spinal stenosis, left shoulder disorder, and bilateral knee disorder were not incurred in or aggravated by service. The failure to report for VA examinations served only to deprive the Board of critical clarifying medical evidence.

The Board found no evidence to support a finding that the Veteran's left hip, left leg, or low back disorders are related to his active service.,VA medical records do not provide sufficient information to establish a nexus between any current diagnoses and service.

The Board has remanded the case for a new VA spine examination to determine if the Veteran's low back disorder is related to his military service. The claim will be adjudicated again after the examination.

The Veteran's lumbar spine disorder, arthritis, bilateral hearing loss, and tinnitus were not shown to have been incurred or aggravated during active service.,There is no evidence of a nexus between the current diagnoses and any in-service events or diseases.

The Board has ordered a remand to obtain an addendum opinion regarding the Veteran's service connection claim for degenerative disc disease of the cervical spine, including whether it is at least as likely as not caused or aggravated by his service-connected disabilities.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's low back disorder and skin disorder are not related to his active service, and thus denied both claims.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development to obtain medical opinions regarding the etiology of his claimed disabilities, including bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus. The low back, right shoulder, and left knee conditions are also under review.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for his service-connected knee, lumbar spine, and right shoulder disabilities are being remanded to allow for additional development including scheduling a VA examination.

The Board has determined that new and material evidence has been received to reopen the service connection claims for bilateral knee disorders and a low back disorder, both of which were previously denied. The Veteran's claim is granted.

The Veteran withdrew his appeal regarding the issue of entitlement to an increased disability rating for degenerative disc disease.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's lumbar spine disability is related to an event in service and grants service connection for this condition.

The Board has reopened the Veteran's claim of service connection for a lumbar spine disorder and remanded it for further development. The Veteran submitted new evidence that tends to substantiate his claim, which was denied in an earlier rating decision.

The Board has reopened the Veteran's claim for service connection due to new and material evidence. However, the preponderance of the evidence does not support a finding that his current degenerative disc disease with left sided stenosis is related to his military service.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded for further procedural development, including a new VA examination to assess the severity of his service-connected back disability and its impact on employment. A TDIU claim has been inferred from evidence in the record.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for an extraschedular rating for his lumbar spine disability, finding that the evidence did not support such assignment due to the lack of unusual or exceptional disability pattern.

The Board found no evidence of a low back injury in service and concluded that the Veteran's current low back disability is not related to his military service.

The Board has granted service connection for a lumbar spine disorder, finding that it was caused by the Veteran's right ankle disability. The left ankle disability claim is remanded due to insufficient evidence.

The Veteran's claims for service connection and increased ratings were denied. The Board found that the evidence did not support a finding of service connection or an increase in disability rating.

The Board has determined that further development is needed to properly evaluate the Veteran's claim for service connection for residuals of a low back injury, including obtaining an adequate VA examination and opinion.

The Board has remanded the case for further development due to missing records and incomplete VA treatment records.