Back / lumbar spine decisions — 2015

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including obtaining a VA examination and issuing a Statement of the Case on the increased rating issue. The Veteran's claim for service connection for a back disability is also being remanded.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim to reopen his service connection for a back disability, finding that the new evidence submitted was not material and did not raise a reasonable possibility of substantiating the claim.

The Veteran's service-connected lumbosacral degenerative disc and degenerative joint disease was found to be manifested by limitation of motion, flare-ups, significant pain, and functional impairment that more closely approximated limitation of flexion to 30 degrees or less. The Board granted a 40% rating for this disability.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's onychomycosis of the great toes was not present in service and is not etiologically related to his active service. Therefore, the claim for service connection for this condition has been denied.

The Veteran's service-connected conditions do not render him unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation.

The Veteran's service-connected knee disabilities have been granted increased ratings, and he is now eligible for a TDIU.

The Board has granted service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus, finding that the Veteran's current disabilities are related to in-service acoustic trauma. The remaining claims of service connection for neck, shoulder, back, hip, and leg disabilities have been remanded for further development.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss, right knee disorder, cervical spine disorder, and lumbar spine disorder were denied. The Board found that the Veteran does not have current diagnoses of these conditions.

The Board has remanded the case for further development, including obtaining private treatment records and scheduling VA examinations. The issues of service connection for various disabilities remain on appeal.

The Board has determined that new and material evidence has been received to reopen the Veteran's claims for service connection for a psychiatric disorder, lumbar spine disability, right knee disability, left knee disability, bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, and carpal tunnel syndrome. The appeals are granted.

The Board denied reopening the claim for a back disorder and found no new and material evidence. The right foot bunion was not incurred in service.

The Board found no current low back, right elbow, left elbow, right wrist, or left wrist conditions to support service connection. The Veteran's symptoms were attributed to non-service-connected causes.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings and service connection were denied. The Veteran was granted a higher rating for his lumbar spine disorder, but not for the left knee disorder or TDIU.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded due to the need for further VA examinations and development of his claims for higher ratings related to his service-connected lumbosacral strain with degenerative disc disease.

The Board has remanded the appeal due to the Veteran's request for a video conference hearing. The issues of service connection remain pending.

The Veteran's claim for an earlier effective date of November 6, 2009 for a 70 percent evaluation for PTSD is granted. The claims to reopen service connection for right arm (shoulder) injury, right hand injury, and back disability are also granted.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for a lumbar spine disability, left ear hearing loss, and right shoulder disability have been granted. The remaining issues of entitlement to service connection for other conditions are denied.,No effective date has been assigned as the evidence is not sufficient to establish when these disabilities began.

The Board has remanded the case due to incomplete records and need for further examination. Service connection will be reconsidered based on the new evidence.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional examinations and development of his claims for service connection for various disabilities, including cervical spine, lumbar spine, left knee, and amnesia.

The Board has granted service connection for the Veteran's low back and neck disabilities, but has not addressed his claim for a left arm/shoulder disability due to secondary service connection.