Back / lumbar spine decisions — 2014

The Board has granted service connection for tinnitus and denied service connection for a lumbar spine disability and an acquired psychiatric disorder (including PTSD and depression). The Veteran's tinnitus is presumed to have been incurred during his active duty service. Service connection was not established for the lumbar spine or psychiatric conditions.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's current back disability is related to his active service, and therefore grants service connection for this condition.

The Veteran's low back disability claim is being remanded for further development, including obtaining her complete service treatment records and a VA examination to address the nature and etiology of any current low back disability.

The Veteran's lumbosacral strain and bilateral hip disability, diagnosed as left hip arthralgia, right hip arthropathy, and bilateral hip strain, are found to be related to service. The upper respiratory infection is not currently diagnosed.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss disability is granted as incurred in service. The claims for a bilateral knee and back conditions are also granted, with the latter being secondary to his great toe hallux valgus.

The Veteran's lumbar spine, right knee, and right shoulder disabilities were not incurred in service. The Board also found that the Veteran did not have a chronic disability manifested by blurred vision during service.,Prostatitis was granted an initial evaluation of 60 percent from December 1, 2010.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development of her claims, including obtaining medical records and employment information.

The Board has granted service connection for back disability and left knee degenerative joint disease.,Non-service-connected pension claim is intertwined with the grant of service connection.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development of his claims, including obtaining Social Security Administration records and VA treatment records.

The Veteran's appeal to establish the timeliness of his NOD with the August 2008 rating decision is granted. The case is REMANDED for issuance of a SOC addressing the merits of the service connection claims.

The Board found no evidence of a lumbar spine disability during service or within one year post-service, and the Veteran's current lumbar spine disability is not shown to be related to his service-connected left leg fracture. The VA examiner concluded that the Veteran's current low back condition was not caused by or aggravated beyond its normal progression by his service-connected lower leg condition.

The Board has determined that additional in-service and post-service medical records are needed to properly adjudicate the Veteran's claim for service connection for a back disability. The case is being remanded for further development.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including a VA examination to assess the current severity of her low back disorder and etiology of her bilateral leg condition, headaches, and myotonic dystrophy. The claims are also being reviewed in light of any new evidence.

The Veteran's claim for compensation under 38 U.S.C.A. § 1151 is being remanded due to the need for a video conference hearing at the St. Petersburg RO.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining updated medical records and scheduling the Veteran for VA examinations to assess her pes planus, hip, knee, and back disabilities.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including obtaining medical records and scheduling examinations to determine if the Veteran's back and left knee disabilities are related to his active duty service.

The Veteran's claim for a TDIU is being remanded due to the need for additional development, including a VA examination to determine if his service-connected disabilities prevent him from securing and following substantially gainful employment.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for headaches has been granted. The Board finds that the Veteran's current headache condition is related to her active duty service.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's lumbar spine claim should be remanded for a VA examination to determine if any current thoracolumbar spine disorders are related to military service, and for obtaining relevant medical records.

The Board has determined that there is no evidence of a back condition during service or within one year post-service, and the Veteran's current condition does not appear to be related to his active duty. Therefore, service connection for a back condition cannot be established.