Back / lumbar spine decisions — 2015

The Board found that the Veteran's current lower back condition is not related to his service and denied his claim for service connection.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's cervical spine condition and headaches are service-connected, with both conditions manifesting shortly after his separation from active duty.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for a low back disability, including DDD with spondylolisthesis and spina bifida occulta, is being remanded due to the need for additional development.

The Board has determined that additional development is necessary in order to properly adjudicate the Veteran's claims, including obtaining updated treatment records and arranging for VA examinations.

The Board has remanded the case due to the need for clarification of the nature and extent of any neurological disability affecting the Veteran's lower extremities, including peripheral neuropathy, sciatica, and/or radiculopathy. The appeal will be reconsidered after this additional development.

The Board has determined that the Veteran does not have a bilateral calf disorder or right knee disorder, and therefore, service connection for these conditions is denied. The remaining issues of secondary service connection are inextricably intertwined with the pes planus claim.

The Board found that the Veteran's chronic low back disability was not incurred or aggravated by his active service. The preponderance of evidence does not support a finding that his current low back disorder is related to his military service.

The Board has determined that the Veteran does not have a back or neck disability that is related to his military service and thus denied both claims.

The Veteran's claim for a higher rating for his degenerative disc disease of the lumbar spine was granted, with a current rating of 20 percent effective from March 26, 2009. The decision also noted separate ratings for incomplete paralysis of both lower extremities.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's low back and bilateral knee disabilities are not related to service, and therefore, denied his claims for service connection.

The Board has remanded the case for further development and adjudication due to a prior decision being vacated by the Court. The Veteran's claim will be returned to the VA examiner who conducted the February 2010 VA spine examination for an addendum opinion.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's current back and neck conditions are not related to his service, and therefore denied his claims for service connection.

The Board has remanded the case due to inadequate medical opinions and requests for additional development. The Veteran's claim for service connection for a cervical spine disability is pending.

The Board has granted service connection for a back disorder, but denied service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus due to lack of evidence linking these conditions to active duty service.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded due to the need for additional examinations and records.

The Veteran's low back disability is currently rated as 10 percent disabling, and the Board finds that a higher rating is not warranted based on the evidence of record.

The Board has determined that further examination and development are necessary to properly adjudicate the Veteran's claims for service connection for osteoarthritis of the lumbar spine and radiculopathy of the bilateral lower extremities.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded for additional development, including obtaining VA treatment records and scheduling a VA examination to assess the severity of his thoracolumbar spinal condition. The TDIU claim is also inextricably intertwined with this issue.

The Board has granted service connection for right ankle and low back disabilities, as well as DJD other than of the lumbar spine. The Veteran's claims for residuals of a head injury, DM, and an acquired psychiatric disorder are remanded.

The Veteran's claims for service connection and initial ratings have been granted. The Board found that the Veteran has keloids on his chest and back, right ear hearing loss, degenerative disc disease of the lumbar spine, gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD), posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD), right hip bursitis, left hip bursitis, right knee bursitis with chondromalacia, bilateral flat feet with degenerative changes of both feet, and stress related headaches. The Veteran's service connection claims are granted as his conditions are found to be at least as likely as not related to his military service.