Back / lumbar spine decisions — 2015

The Veteran's claims for service connection are being remanded due to the need for additional medical examinations and development of records.

The Board has granted service connection for a back disorder, but denied service connection for shin splints of the lower extremities.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for hearing loss and tinnitus have been denied. The Board is unable to establish a link between the Veteran's current disabilities and her military service, including exposure to noise during service. For the low back disability and loss of teeth issues, further development is needed as there are insufficient records in the file.

The Board has reopened the claim of service connection for a lumbar spine disorder and granted it, finding that there is relative equipoise in the evidence regarding whether the Veteran's current condition is related to his military service.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for various conditions, including diabetes mellitus, back disability, upper and lower extremity disorders, loss of balance, memory loss, stroke residuals, abdominal aortic aneurysm, cancer of the face (basal cell carcinoma), and duodenal or pancreatic tumor. The Board found no evidence linking these conditions to service.

The Board has determined that additional development is needed to obtain medical records and the case will be returned for further action.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's current low back disability began in service and has persisted since then, granting service connection.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for myofascial lumbar syndrome, PTSD, and irritable bowel syndrome have been granted. The diagnoses of these conditions are supported by medical evidence, and the criteria for direct service connection have been met.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded due to the need for a Board hearing before a Veterans Law Judge sitting at the RO.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's claims for earlier effective dates for service connection and special monthly compensation are denied as there is no evidence of a formal or informal claim received prior to December 31, 2010.

The Board has determined that the appellant's service dates need clarification and additional medical examinations are required to determine if his current disabilities were incurred or aggravated during periods of active duty, inactive duty training (INACDUTRA), or reserve component service. The appeal is being remanded for these purposes.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including a new VA examination to assess the severity of his service-connected back disability and bilateral knee conditions.

The Board has determined that a VA examination is needed to determine the nature and etiology of any right hand and low back disabilities present, as well as whether they began during or are causally related to service. The Veteran's lay testimony regarding in-service injuries will be considered.

The Veteran's appeal is dismissed due to the death of the Veteran, which has no jurisdiction over the merits of the claim.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for further development, including scheduling VA examinations and preparing an SOC regarding the issues of increased ratings and effective dates.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for left ankle and lumbosacral spine disabilities, finding that there is no evidence of a current disability related to service.

The Board has determined that additional development is necessary before the underlying claims can be adjudicated on the merits.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including new VA examinations to assess the severity of his service-connected lumbosacral strain and hypertrophic gastritis.

The Veteran's claim for an educational assistance benefits rate in excess of 60 percent under the post-9/11 GI Bill is denied as her only qualifying active duty service was less than 18 months and did not meet the criteria for a higher rating.

The Veteran's cervical spine disability was not productive of forward flexion to 15 degrees or less, nor did it result in favorable ankylosis. The assigned rating is appropriate as the disability has been stable and does not meet criteria for a higher rating.