Back / lumbar spine decisions — 2015

The Board has determined that additional development is needed to properly adjudicate the Veteran's claims for service connection for low back, right foot, and left foot disorders. The case will be remanded for further action.

The Board has determined that additional development is needed for the Veteran's claims, including obtaining medical opinions regarding his claimed PTSD and acquired psychiatric conditions. The case will be returned to the AOJ for further action.

The Veteran is service-connected for peripheral neuropathy of both right and left lower extremities and back disability, which necessitates the use of a knee brace and wheelchair. The Board finds that he is entitled to an annual clothing allowance for the year 2013.

The Board has granted service connection for a back disability and left hip arthritis, finding that the Veteran's current symptoms are related to his military service. The left ankle disability was not found to be related to service.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection of chronic right knee disorder, bilateral hip disorder, and low back disorder as secondary to his service-connected left knee disability.

The Board has remanded the case for further development, including obtaining updated treatment records and scheduling a VA examination to determine if the Veteran's back disability is related to his active duty service.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for arthritis of the left knee has been reopened and granted. The Board finds that his arthritis became manifest to a degree of at least 10 percent within one year from the date of separation from service, meeting the criteria for presumptive service connection under VA regulations.

The Veteran's appeals have been dismissed as he has withdrawn his appeal.

The Veteran's claims for service connection are being remanded due to inadequate VA examination opinions and the need for additional medical evidence.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development due to incomplete evidence and need for VA examinations.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining service personnel records and VA treatment records. A psychiatric examination will be conducted to determine the current severity of her service-connected back disability and whether any diagnosed psychiatric disorder is related to her active service or aggravated by her service-connected back disability.

The Veteran's non-service-connected disabilities are of sufficient severity to permanently preclude him from engaging in substantially gainful employment consistent with his age, education, and occupational experience. The Board finds that the criteria for a permanent and total disability rating are met, granting non-service-connected disability pension benefits.

The Board found that the Veteran's current low back disorder did not manifest during service or within one year thereafter and is not otherwise related to his military service, thus denying his claim for service connection.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for lumbar disability and bilateral pes cavus, finding that there is no evidence of a current disability related to service or within one year post-service.

The Veteran's current low back disability was caused or permanently aggravated by his active military service, and the Board has granted entitlement to service connection for degenerative disc disease of the lumbar spine.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's lumbar spine disability, diagnosed as degenerative disc disease and facet arthritis, is attributable to his active service. The claim for service connection is granted.

The Veteran's appeal has been withdrawn prior to the Board making a decision.

The Veteran's bilateral pes planus and lumbosacral strain disabilities have been evaluated based on their current manifestations, with the highest rating of 30% for bilateral pes planus. The lumbosacral strain has not met criteria for higher ratings at any point during the appeal period.

The Veteran's residuals of T5 compression fracture are related to his military service, and the Board has granted service connection for a thoracic spine disability. The issues of lumbar and cervical spine disabilities remain pending.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for PTSD is granted, and the Board finds that his current diagnosis of PTSD is etiologically related to an in-service stressor. The Veteran's claim for increased evaluation for facet osteoarthritis with right L5 pars interarticularis defect of the lumbar spine is also granted.