Back / lumbar spine decisions — 2014

The Board has determined that additional development is necessary to verify the Veteran's National Guard service in July 1979 and to obtain pertinent private treatment records. The case will be remanded for further examination of his back, neck, and peripheral neuropathy claims.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded due to the need for a new VA examination and consideration of his TDIU claim.

The Board has determined that service connection is granted for the Veteran's back disorder, but denied for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus.

The Board has granted service connection for tinnitus and denied service connection for low back condition. The right wrist condition claim is remanded for additional development.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for a low back disability, to include degenerative disc disease at L5-S1, has been granted in full due to the grant of service connection for lumbar disc bulging at L4-5 and L5-S1. As there is no longer any issue regarding an error of fact or law before the Board on this matter, the appeal is dismissed.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's low back, right knee, and right hip disabilities are related to his military service. The Veteran's right hip disability is not related to his service, but the examiner found no evidence of a current right knee disability other than a scar noted at enlistment.

The Board is granting service connection for a foreshortened right leg and consequent right hip disability. However, the remaining claims of service connection for hypothyroidism, cervical spine degenerative disc disease, and low testosterone are being remanded for further development.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for PTSD and lumbosacral strain are being remanded due to the need for additional development, including obtaining SSA records and VA treatment records.

The Veteran's thoracolumbar spine degenerative arthritis has been rated at 20 percent since October 1, 2010. His left knee status post-surgery with osteoarthritis and chondromalacia patellae has also been rated at 10 percent since that date.

The Board finds that the Veteran's current back disorders are not related to service and therefore denies service connection for a back disorder.

The Veteran's cervical spine disability is related to his active service, and the Board finds that service connection for degenerative disc disease of the cervical spine is granted. The issue of a higher rating for lumbar spinal stenosis remains pending.

The Board found that the Veteran's claimed conditions are not related to his military service, including exposure to Project SHAD. The claims for service connection were denied.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded due to the need for a 3-way videoconference hearing. The issues of service connection for various conditions are still pending.

The Veteran's TDIU claim is being remanded for further examination and consideration due to incomplete records, including SSA disability benefits decisions. The VA will also obtain the necessary medical records and conduct a new VA examination to assess whether his service-connected disabilities alone preclude him from securing or following a substantially gainful occupation.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including a VA examination and readjudication of his claims. The TDIU claim will be addressed in light of the results from the examination.

The Board found no evidence linking the Veteran's current lumbar spine disability to his service or a service-connected condition, and thus denied the claim for service connection.

The Board has determined that the Veteran does not have a low back or left knee disability that manifested in service, or within one year of separation from service. The VA examinations and private opinions do not support a finding that these disabilities are related to his military service.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for increased ratings for PFB, hypertension, right knee disorder, and low back disorder. The evidence did not support a compensable evaluation under applicable diagnostic codes.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including scheduling a Travel Board hearing and obtaining an examination to determine the etiology of his back disability. The issue of TDIU will also be addressed.