Back / lumbar spine decisions — 2014

The Veteran's appeal has been withdrawn by his representative due to the grant of a total disability rating based upon individual unemployability.

The Board has determined that there is no competent and credible evidence showing a nexus between the current right hand numbness, from right baby finger to right wrist and hand, and service. The Veteran's claim for service connection for low back strain was denied.

The Veteran's initial claim for a higher rating for his left ankle sprain was denied, and the December 1994 denial of service connection for a low back disorder became final. The Board found that new evidence received since the December 1994 decision raised a reasonable possibility of substantiating the claim to reopen service connection for a low back disorder.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining updated VA treatment records and scheduling a VA examination to determine his need for aid and attendance or whether he is housebound due to service-connected disabilities. The issue of service connection for tinnitus will also be remanded for issuance of a Statement of the Case.

The Board has reopened the Veteran's claims for service connection for various conditions and finds that new and material evidence has been received to reopen these claims.

The Board has remanded the case for further development, including obtaining additional medical records and providing a VA examination to determine the etiology of the Veteran's claimed back disorder.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded due to the need for additional development, including obtaining medical records and conducting examinations.

The Board has determined that further development is needed to adjudicate the Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss and a low back disorder. The Veteran will be scheduled for VA examinations to determine if she currently has these conditions, and whether they are related to her active duty service.

The Veteran's service-connected degenerative disc disease of the lumbosacral spine status post laminectomy precludes him from engaging in substantially gainful employment, and his TDIU claim is being remanded for extra-schedular consideration.

The Board has reopened the claim for service connection for a lumbar disorder and finds that new and material evidence has been submitted. However, it is unable to determine whether the Veteran's current lumbar disorder resulted from an in-service injury or if it was caused by work-related activities.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for residuals of a back injury with scoliosis of the lumbar spine and spina bifida was previously denied multiple times. New evidence submitted since the last denial does not meet the criteria to reopen the claim, as it is not new and material.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining medical records and scheduling the Veteran for VA examinations to determine the nature and etiology of his claimed conditions.

The Board has granted substitution for the Appellant in processing to completion a pending claim involving the disability rating assigned for degenerative disc disease of the lumbar spine. The issue of entitlement to DIC based on service connection for the cause of the Veteran's death is denied.

The Veteran's cervical and lumbar spine disabilities have been rated at 10 percent each, with no other significant issues addressed. The service connection for left shoulder disorder has also been granted.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for various conditions have been denied as there is no current evidence of the claimed disorders and the Board finds that they are not related to service.

The Veteran's claim for a higher rating for his service-connected lumbar spine disability was denied. The Board found that the evidence did not support an increased rating prior to December 15, 2011.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not render him unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation.

The Veteran's combined rating is 80 percent, and the VA specialist determined that his service-connected disabilities do not render him unemployable.

The Veteran's osteopenia is found to be secondary to his service-connected diabetes mellitus.,There is no evidence of a current degenerative arthritis of the lumbar spine in service or within one year after separation, and it has not been shown to have been caused by service or caused or aggravated by his service connected diabetes mellitus.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection in several areas, including sensitive feet, bilateral knee disability, right leg disability, back disability, weight gain, sleep disorder, hypertension, and psychiatric disorder. The decisions were based on lack of direct causal nexus to military service or secondary service connection due to a pre-existing condition.