Back / lumbar spine decisions — 2014

The Veteran's back disability is granted as service connected. The Veteran's malaria and shrapnel scar of the left facial region are each rated at 10 percent.

The Board has decided to remand the Veteran's claim for further development due to incomplete service personnel records and potential workman's compensation records, as well as a need for an addendum VA medical opinion considering the Veteran's statements about his back history.

The Board has reopened the Veteran's claim of service connection for a low back disability, but finds that it is not warranted on de novo review.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's low back disability is not causally or etiologically related to his period of active service and therefore denied his claim for service connection.

The Veteran's lumbar spine disability, diagnosed as osteoarthritis, was found to have been incurred in service and granted service connection. The claim for TDIU is also granted.

The Board has ordered additional development to verify the Veteran's periods of active duty, ACDUTRA, and INACDUTRA during his service in the Air Force Reserves from July 1994 to April 2004. The case will be returned to the AOJ for further review.

The Veteran withdrew his claims for tinnitus, bilateral hearing loss disability, low back disability and PTSD prior to the Board's decision.

The Board has reopened the Veteran's claims for service connection for a low back disability and radiculopathy of the lower left extremity, finding new and material evidence to support these claims.,Service connection is granted for both conditions as secondary to the Veteran's service-connected low back disability.

The Veteran's appeal was dismissed because he died during the pendency of his appeal, and thus the Board has no jurisdiction to adjudicate the merits of his claim.

The Board found that the Veteran's current low back disability is not related to his service, and thus denied both his claim for service connection and his TDIU claim.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded due to the need for additional development, including obtaining SSA records and scheduling a VA examination.

The Veteran's appeal for an increased rating for his service-connected residuals of compression fractures, T4-T7 with degenerative disc disease has been dismissed due to the death of the appellant.

The Board finds that the Veteran's residuals of a left ankle sprain is due to an injury sustained during her period of active service. However, there is no evidence showing a current back disorder or any relationship between her service-connected pelvic inflammatory disease and her degenerative disc disease of the thoracolumbar spine.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's current lower back condition is not related to his active duty service.

The Veteran's appeal is being REMANDED for additional development and consideration of his service connection claims for bilateral hearing loss, thoracolumbar spine disorder, and left hip disorder.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims of service connection for a back disorder and an acquired psychiatric disorder, both including as due to service-connected disability.

The Board has remanded the claims for additional development due to inadequate VA examinations, and the issues of service connection are now pending.

The Veteran's claims for service connection have been denied for low back disability, bilateral hearing loss, left knee disability, right knee disability, and breast lump. The claim for service connection for fibromyalgia has been granted.,PTSD was initially granted with a higher rating from July 31, 2007 to November 11, 2010.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's current cervical spine, thoracolumbar spine, and bilateral hip disabilities are at least as likely as not caused or aggravated by his service-connected bilateral hallux valgus, bilateral ankle strain, and bilateral knee strain. The ratings for left and right ankle disability have been increased to 20 percent prior to March 31, 2011.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including obtaining medical records and determining whether the Veteran served on active duty or inactive duty training in March 1990.