Back / lumbar spine decisions — 2014

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded to the AOJ for additional development, including a VA examination and adjudication of issues related to service connection and TDIU.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded to the RO for scheduling a video conference Board hearing in Washington DC. The claims will be returned to the Board after the hearing.

The Board has granted service connection for a low back disorder secondary to the Veteran's service-connected right knee disorder. The claims of reopening service connection for hypertension and left ear hearing loss have also been granted.

The Board has remanded the case due to questions regarding the exact nature and etiology of the Veteran's claimed low back disability, including whether it is related to service. The Veteran served in active duty for training in August 1988 when he sustained an injury resulting in acute low back strain.

The Veteran withdrew his appeal of the claim for a higher rating for his low back disability.

The Board has found that the Veteran's current back disability and tinnitus are not service-connected, but his coronary artery disease is denied due to lack of evidence. The Veteran's coronary artery disease claim will be remanded for further development.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's tinnitus is at least as likely as not related to his service, and thus grants service connection for tinnitus. The issue of lumbosacral degenerative disease remains pending due to a lack of sufficient evidence regarding its onset during service.

The Board has remanded the case for further development, including obtaining VA treatment records and scheduling a new examination to assess the Veteran's PTSD. The issues of service connection for a back disorder, increased rating for PTSD, and entitlement to TDIU are also being addressed.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for low back and upper back disorders, finding that there is no credible evidence of a continuity of symptomatology since service or arthritis manifesting within one year after separation from active duty.

The Veteran is seeking service connection for a lumbar spine disability. The Board has determined that the current examination and opinion are inadequate, and thus remands the case for further development.

The Veteran's lumbar spine/sacroiliac disability and bilateral hip disability are service-connected, with the latter being secondary to the former. The initial ratings for DM and peripheral neuropathy of both lower extremities have been granted.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for hernia, back disability, stress disorder, alcoholism, and heart disease. The evidence did not establish a direct link between these conditions and active duty.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection and increased rating for his low back disability, left shoulder disability, right knee disability, and left knee disability. The evidence did not support a finding that these conditions were related to military service or a service-connected condition.

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

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including to obtain updated treatment records and to schedule new VA examinations. The Veteran's claims include a claim for an increased evaluation of his service-connected lumbar spine condition and a claim for service connection for residuals of a cervical spine fracture.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for various conditions have been denied as there is no evidence of a current disability related to her military service.

The Veteran's initial claim for a higher rating for his degenerative disc disease of the lumbar spine was denied. The current rating of 20 percent is maintained.

The Board denied service connection for a back disorder and denied an increased rating for PTSD. The Veteran's current diagnoses of DDD and spondylosis were not related to his active duty service or any other condition.

The Veteran's cervical neck subluxation is rated at 10 percent, and her migraine headaches are rated at the maximum schedular rating of 50 percent. Both conditions do not warrant higher ratings.

The Board found no evidence of a current lumbar or cervical spine disability present in service, and the preponderance of the evidence does not support a finding that any such disabilities were incurred during military service. The Veteran's reported symptoms are attributed to non-service-related incidents.