Back / lumbar spine decisions — 2015

The Veteran's claims for service connection for various conditions, including diabetes mellitus, fingernail and toenail disabilities, an acquired psychiatric disability (including PTSD), a neck disability, a back disability, bilateral knee disability, sinusitis, and skin disability are denied. The Veteran is granted service connection for flat feet.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for a new VA examination to determine the current severity of his service-connected thoracolumbar spine disability, including any incapacitating episodes and neurological manifestations. Updated treatment records are also needed.

The Board has determined that there is no evidence of a current right elbow or low back disability, and the Veteran's reported injuries are not related to his service. Therefore, service connection for these conditions is denied.

The Veteran's appeal for service connection for a low back condition to include degenerative disc disease and spondylosis has been withdrawn by the appellant.

The Veteran's claim for special monthly pension based on the need for aid and attendance was denied as he is not in need of regular aid and attendance by another individual.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's cervical spine disability is not related to service and denied his claim for service connection. The right wrist and right knee disabilities are also denied as there is no clear evidence of their onset during service.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's lumbar spine disability is related to his service-connected right gluteal shrapnel wound (MG XVII) with right foot neurological defect, and thus service connection for this condition is granted.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's current low back disorder, diagnosed as lumbar spine arthritis, is not related to his active military service and therefore denied his claim for service connection.

The Veteran's thoracolumbar myofascial pain syndrome originated during her active service and is granted service connection. The psychiatric disorders (depression, PTSD, anxiety disorder) are not directly related to service.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings and service connection were denied. The Board found that the evidence did not support higher evaluations for his back and knee disabilities, nor did it establish a link between his hepatitis C and service.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities are sufficiently incapacitating to result in unemployability, and the Board grants TDIU.

The Board has remanded the case for further development, including obtaining a retrospective medical opinion regarding the Veteran's lumbar spine disability from March 13, 2008 to June 24, 2011.

The Veteran's low back pain with DJD is manifested by no more than slight limitation of motion, and the Board finds that a rating in excess of 10 percent is not warranted.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for a back disability is being remanded due to the need for additional medical examination and opinion. The issue of whether new and material evidence has been received to reopen her previously denied claim is also being remanded.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining private treatment records and scheduling a VA examination to assess the severity of his service-connected lumbar spine degenerative joint and disc disease. The social worker will also conduct a social and industrial survey to determine if he can engage in substantially gainful employment due to his disabilities.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's current hearing loss, hypertension, cervical spine DJD, and lumbar spine DDD are not service-connected as they do not meet the criteria for service connection based on in-service noise exposure or other established medical evidence.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded to obtain updated VA examination and treatment records, as well as for a new evaluation of his service-connected lumbosacral strain.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded due to missing service treatment records and the need for additional examinations to determine the etiology of his claimed disabilities.

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

The Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss, right shoulder disability, neck disability, upper back disability, tinnitus, and PTSD were denied. The effective dates for the grants of service connection for PTSD and low back disability are not earlier than May 6, 2009, and September 22, 2009 respectively.