Back / lumbar spine decisions — 2014

The Board has found that the evidence is in equipoise as to whether the Veteran's low back disability is related to an incident of service, and thus grants service connection for a low back disability.

The Board has reopened the Veteran's claims for service connection for a low back disability, psychiatric disorder (including PTSD, psychosis, depression, bipolar disorder, obsessive compulsive disorder and psychosis), and left knee disability. The evidence received since the prior final denial is sufficient to reopen these claims.

The Veteran's claim for a higher disability rating for his lumbar spine disability with radiculopathy is being remanded due to the need for additional development, including a current VA examination.

The Veteran does not have a separate and ratable chronic disability of the upper back or right ankle as a result or consequence of disease or injury incurred in or aggravated by his active military service. The Board is remanding the issues for further development.

The Board has granted service connection for degenerative disc disease of the lumbar spine. The Veteran's claims for radiculopathy of the bilateral upper and lower extremities, sciatica of the bilateral lower extremities, and perifolliculitis are remanded for further examination.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining medical records and conducting VA examinations. The issues of increased evaluations for left ankle fracture with Achilles tendonitis, low back strain with degenerative disc disease, TDIU prior to February 19, 2009, and DEA benefits prior to February 19, 2009 are being remanded.

The Board has determined that a VA examination is needed to determine if the Veteran's current low back disorder is related to his active service, and thus grant service connection.

The Board is remanding the claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, back disorder, and residuals of lacerations to the left index and ring fingers. The scar above the Veteran's left eye was noted during his military enlistment but did not permanently worsen during or as a result of his service.

The Board has determined that the Veteran does not have a current disability for which service connection can be granted, and his symptoms are more likely related to non-service-connected conditions or natural aging processes.

The Veteran's claims for service connection and increased ratings are being remanded due to the need for additional development, including VA examinations.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded due to scheduling issues for a hearing before the Board of Veterans' Appeals.

The Board has determined that new and material evidence has been submitted to reopen the claim of service connection for a low back disability. The Veteran's in-service shell fragment wound (SFW) of the left thigh is found to have caused or aggravated his current lumbar spondylosis and degenerative changes, warranting service connection. However, there is no causal relationship between the SFW and the Veteran's diagnosed left hip osteoarthritis and osteoporosis.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for a low back disability and an acquired psychiatric disorder, finding that there is no credible evidence linking these conditions to his active service.

The Veteran's claims for increased evaluations and service connection are being remanded due to the need for additional examinations to assess the severity of his service-connected disabilities and determine if a left leg disorder is related to his service-connected conditions.

The Board granted service connection for a lumbar spine disability, finding that new evidence showed the presence of current degenerative changes in the back.

The Board has granted service connection for lumbar radiculopathy with sciatica and headaches, but denied the remaining issues. The Veteran's lumbar radiculopathy is related to his active service, as are his headaches.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings and TDIU are being remanded due to the need for additional development of his medical records.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including obtaining an addendum opinion from a VA examiner and considering whether the Veteran is entitled to TDIU on an extraschedular basis.

The Veteran's claim for a rating in excess of 20 percent for her lumbar spine disability from December 23, 2009, forward was withdrawn.,A 20 percent rating is granted for the Veteran's DDD of the lumbar spine prior to December 23, 2009.

The Board has granted service connection for a right knee disability and assigned a 10 percent rating for the right distal fibula fracture with repair since May 4, 2012. The low back disability claim is denied.