Back / lumbar spine decisions — 2014

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded due to the need for additional VA examinations and consideration of outstanding VA treatment records.

The Board has determined that the July 2010 rating decision should be remanded due to inadequate examination and factual errors in previous opinions. The Veteran's claim for service connection for a low back disorder, related to her service-connected left and right knee disorders, will need to be reconsidered with new evidence and an appropriate medical opinion.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development due to concerns about the sufficiency of the February 2010 VA examination report and the need to address specific issues related to the Veteran's service connection claims.

The Veteran withdrew her appeal regarding the issues of whether new and material evidence has been received to reopen the issue of entitlement to service connection for a lower back disorder, to include pain secondary to scoliosis, and herniated discs in the lumbar spine; and entitlement to service connection for a cervical spine disorder to include protruding discs at C6-C7.

The Veteran's claims for service connection have been remanded due to the need for additional development, including VA examinations.

The Board has determined that a remand is required to comply with the duty to assist, including obtaining updated treatment records and scheduling a VA examination.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's current back disability is caused by or a result of his service-connected right knee disability, and thus grants service connection for this condition.

The Board found that the Veteran's lumbar spine disability did not have its onset during active duty service and is not shown to be the result of any incident of his active duty service. As such, the claim for service connection was denied.

The Veteran's unauthorized medical expenses incurred on May 10, 2011 at CRMC were reimbursed due to the emergent nature of his back pain and other conditions.

The Board has reopened the Veteran's claims for service connection for sleep apnea, a back disorder, and a deviated septum. However, these claims are being remanded to obtain additional medical records and to provide the Veteran with VA examinations.

The Veteran's claimed right knee, low back, and gastrointestinal disorders were not incurred during active military service, have not been manifested by continuous symptoms since service, if involving arthritis, were not manifested to the required minimum compensable degree of at least 10-percent disabling within a year of separation from service, and are not otherwise shown to be causally related or attributable to the Veteran's service.

The Board has determined that the Veteran does not meet the criteria for service connection for right knee, left knee, and low back disabilities.

The Board has granted service connection for degenerative disc disease of the lumbar spine, finding a nexus to an in-service combat-related injury. Service connection was denied for coccygeal contusion due to lack of probative evidence of current disability.

The Board found that the Veteran's lower back disorder may be presumed to have been incurred in service, but denied service connection for right and left knee disorders.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining private treatment records and SSA records. The claim for TDIU has also been raised by the record.

The Board found that the Veteran's current degenerative joint disease in his low back did not have its onset during service and is not presumed to be related to service. The VA examiner concluded that the arthritis was not caused by or the result of military service.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for fibromyalgia and a lower back disorder are being remanded due to the need for additional development, including obtaining medical opinions regarding the etiology of these conditions.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development to obtain missing records and conduct a VA examination to address the Veteran's claims of service connection for cervical and thoracolumbar spine disabilities.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including a VA examination to assess the current severity of his lumbar and thoracic spine disability.

The Board finds that the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss is at least as likely as not related to his service, and grants service connection for this condition. The VA spine examiner did not provide a nexus opinion regarding the Veteran's lumbar nerve root entrapment or radiculopathy of the right lower extremity. A new examination by an appropriate specialist is needed.