Back / lumbar spine decisions — 2015

The Board has determined that the Veteran's current neck and back disorders are not related to his active duty service.

The Veteran's service records show intermittent complaints of headaches and dizziness, but no current diagnoses have been linked to his service.,There is no medical evidence linking the Veteran's current disabilities (headaches and dizziness) to his military service.

The Veteran's claim for an initial disability rating in excess of 10 percent for service-connected thoracolumbar strain with degenerative disc disease is being remanded due to the need for a new VA examination and consideration of additional evidence.

The Board found that the Veteran's current back disability and acquired psychiatric disorder did not have onset during active service or within one year of separation from service, and are not otherwise etiologically related to his active service.

The Board restored the Veteran's 60 percent rating for his lumbar spine disability and granted entitlement to TDIU and DEA benefits. The claim for a higher rating was denied.

The Veteran is seeking service connection for left hip and low back disabilities that he believes are secondary to his service-connected right knee disability. The Board has determined that additional development, including obtaining updated VA treatment records and providing addendum opinions, is necessary before a final decision can be made.

The Veteran's lumbosacral spondylosis and disc herniation were found to be incurred during active service, with the Board resolving all reasonable doubt in his favor.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for further development, including consideration of the November 2014 VA examination reports and issuance of a supplemental statement of the case if any benefits are granted.

The Veteran's appeal has been dismissed as his representative requested withdrawal of the appeals for the issues of entitlement to compensable ratings for bilateral patellar tendonitis, mechanical low back pain, and tension headaches (claimed as migraine headaches).

The Veteran's appeal is denied as the evidence does not support a higher initial rating for his low back disability, and service connection for cervical spine arthritis was granted but no new rating assigned. The TDIU claim is also pending.

The Board found no evidence of arthritis or other chronic disability within one year post-service, and the VA examiner did not find a link between current low back and shoulder conditions and service. The Veteran's claims for service connection were denied.

The Veteran's PTSD is rated at 30 percent, his bilateral hearing loss and low back disability are both service-connected.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development to obtain updated VA treatment records, arrange for examinations to assess the severity of his service-connected disabilities and determine their etiology, and readjudicate the claims.

The Board found that the Veteran does not have a current diagnosis of bilateral knee disability or low back disability, and thus denied service connection for these conditions.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded due to the need for a VA examination and additional development of his claims for service connection for lower back, right knee, right ankle, and left ankle disorders.

The Veteran's appeal has been withdrawn by the appellant, and thus the case is dismissed.

The Veteran seeks service connection for left hip and low back disorders, but additional evidence is needed to determine the nature of his conditions and their relationship to military service.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, and a right foot disability. The claim for low back disability is pending as an issue.

The Veteran's claim for a higher initial rating for his service-connected degenerative changes of the lumbar spine was granted, with an effective date of November 28, 2012. The current disability rating is 40 percent.

The Board has granted the claim for service connection for lumbosacral degenerative disc disease and spinal stenosis, finding that it is proximately due to or the result of a service-connected thoracolumbar strain.