Back / lumbar spine decisions — 2014

The Board has determined that the Veteran's lumbar spondylosis and allergic rhinitis are related to service, granting service connection for these conditions. The remaining issues have been remanded.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection of a low back disability and bilateral sensorineural hearing loss. The claim to reopen his right knee disability was also denied due to lack of new and material evidence.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, when considered together, render him unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation.

The Board has determined that the Veteran does not have a lumbar spine disorder or left shoulder disorder that was incurred or aggravated in service.,Both conditions are found to be unrelated to his period of active duty and INACDUTRA.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for a Travel Board hearing. The issues are about service connection for degenerative joint and disc disease of the lumbar spine and cervical spine, with secondary service connection.

The Board has determined that new and material evidence has been received to reopen the Veteran's claim for service connection for a back disability. The case is now remanded for further development, including obtaining medical records and scheduling an examination.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining SSA records and private medical records. An addendum opinion regarding the nature and etiology of his lumbar spine disability and left knee disability will also be obtained.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded due to his failure to appear at a previously scheduled videoconference hearing. The case will be rescheduled for a new hearing.

The Board finds that the Veteran's chronic joint pain, back disorder, gastrointestinal disorder, and nerve damage to hands are service-connected as direct service connection. The evidence does not establish a nexus between these conditions and active service.

The Board has determined that additional development is needed to properly adjudicate the Veteran's claims, including obtaining updated treatment records and scheduling new VA examinations.

The Board has determined that new and material evidence has not been received to reopen the claim of service connection for a low back disorder. The Veteran's migraine headaches are characterized by characteristic prostrating attacks occurring on an average of at least once a month over the last several months, requiring medication and rest.

The Veteran withdrew her appeal for the issues of entitlement to service connection for a left knee disorder, a back disorder, a left hip disorder, a right hip disorder, and a personality disorder at her May 2013 Board hearing.

The Board has determined that the appellant's current lumbar spine disability, including degenerative joint disease of the lumbar spine and L5-S1 nucleus pulposus, is likely as not related to his in-service injury on March 2, 2002. As a result, service connection for these conditions is granted.

The Board has ordered additional development to obtain all relevant medical records and consider the Veteran's lay statements regarding her low back disorder. The claim will be reconsidered after this development.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for further development, including VA examinations to assess the severity of his service-connected disabilities.

The Board denied service connection for a lumbar spine disorder, as well as increased ratings for the Veteran's right and left knee disabilities. The claim of TDIU was also denied. The earlier effective date claim for left ankle degenerative joint disease is pending.

The Veteran's appeal for higher ratings for his service-connected degenerative disc disease of the lumbar spine and bilateral lower extremity radiculopathy has been granted, with a combined disability rating of 50 percent. The Board also found that he is unemployable due to his service-connected disabilities.

The Board finds that the Veteran's current low back degenerative disc disease with left lumbar radiculopathy is more likely than not related to his service, and grants service connection for this condition.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral foot, knee, and low back disorders were denied as there is no credible evidence of an in-service injury or disease. The Board found that the Veteran's statements regarding symptoms during service are not credible.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for migraine headaches and cervical degenerative disc disease are being remanded due to the need for additional development, including a new VA examination.