Back / lumbar spine decisions — 2014

The Board finds that the Veteran's lumbar spine degenerative joint disease is not related to his active duty service, but his low back scar is a residual of his in-service pilonidal sinus (cyst) removal. The claim for residuals of pilonidal sinus (cyst) removal is granted.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including an addendum opinion from a medical professional to address the Veteran's claims of service connection and aggravation.

The Board found that the Veteran's lumbar spine disability did not manifest during service or within one year of discharge, and is not shown to be related to his service-connected left ankle and right knee disabilities. The medical opinions provided weighed against a finding in favor of service connection.

The Veteran's service-connected low back strain with degenerative joint disease is not shown to meet the criteria for a rating in excess of 20 percent. The left shoulder acromioclavicular arthritis has been rated appropriately.

The Board has determined that the Veteran did not incur any of the claimed disabilities during his active duty service or any period of ACDUTRA or INACDUTRA. Therefore, service connection for all issues is denied.

The Veteran's claim for a rating in excess of 20 percent for lumbosacral strain was denied, and his TDIU claim remains pending.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not render him unable to obtain and retain substantially gainful employment.

The Board has decided that more evidence is needed to determine if the Veteran's kidney stones and low back disability are related to his military service. The case will be sent back for further investigation.

The Board has determined that additional development is needed to fully and fairly consider the Veteran's claims, including obtaining relevant medical records and scheduling appropriate VA examinations.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining medical records and scheduling VA examinations to assess the severity of his service-connected PTSD and degenerative disc disease at L4-S1.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining medical records and scheduling a VA examination. The TDIU claim will also be adjudicated.

The Veteran's claim for an effective date prior to February 22, 2008 for TDIU is denied as there was no evidence of a timely filed claim. The Veteran's claim for specially adapted housing allowance or special home adaptation grant is also denied due to lack of qualifying service-connected disabilities.

The Board finds that the Veteran's claimed disabilities, including residuals of a head injury, left shoulder disability, lumbar spine disability, right hip disability, and acquired psychiatric disability, did not have their onset during active service or are otherwise related to such service. The evidence does not support a finding of in-service incurrence or continuity of symptoms since service.

The Board has reopened the claim of service connection for a low back disorder due to new and material evidence. The case is now REMANDED for further development, including a VA examination.

The Board has reopened the claim of service connection for a low back disability due to new and material evidence. The Veteran's congenital spondylolysis, spina bifida occulta, and spondylolisthesis are not subject to service connection without superimposed injury or disease.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining SSA medical records and a new VA examination to assess the severity of his service-connected low back disability.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including obtaining private medical records and scheduling VA examinations. The issues on appeal include service connection for low back, left knee, and left ankle disabilities; a higher rating for headaches; and TDIU.

The Veteran's claim to reopen his previously denied service connection for a low back disorder was granted, effective February 11, 2003. His disability is rated as 10 percent disabling.

The Board has reopened the Veteran's claim for service connection for residuals of a back injury, but has determined that there is no evidence to support the claim and denied it.

The Board has remanded the case for scheduling a videoconference hearing and issuing a statement of the case on the issue of entitlement to initial evaluation in excess of 10 percent for service-connected anxiety disorder, not otherwise specified.