Back / lumbar spine decisions — 2015

The Veteran's appeals have been withdrawn. The claims for service connection for asbestos exposure, a left knee disability, and the reopening of service connection for blurred vision, bronchitis, right tibial stress injury, and hearing loss of the right ear are dismissed.

The Veteran is seeking compensation under 38 U.S.C. § 1151 for additional disabilities he claims are the result of VA medical treatment, and he disputes that his disabilities were due to carelessness or negligence on the part of VA providers.

The Veteran's appeal for higher ratings on his service-connected lumbar and cervical spine disabilities, as well as for sinus condition, bilateral foot nail fungus, and eczema, was denied. The Board found that the evidence did not support a higher rating based on the current level of disability.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development of his claims, including obtaining updated VA treatment records and arranging for examinations to assess the current severity of his PTSD, low back disability, left knee degenerative arthritis, and right knee synovitis.

The Board has determined that additional evidence is needed in order to make a decision on the Veteran's claims, including service connection for back, neck, and headache disabilities; initial rating for anxiety disorder; and TDIU.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient examination and inaccurate history in a previous VA examination. The Veteran's claim for service connection for his back disability is being returned to the AOJ for further development.

The Veteran's appeal has been dismissed as his representative withdrew the appeal for the two issues listed above.

The Veteran's PTSD is found as likely as not due to a verified in-service stressor of physical assault, and service connection for PTSD is granted.

The Board has determined that additional development is needed in order to comply with the duty to assist, including obtaining pertinent VA and private medical records, as well as Social Security Administration records. The Veteran should also be afforded examinations for his claimed acquired psychiatric disorder, low back disorder, and pulmonary sarcoidosis.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including obtaining service treatment records and scheduling examinations to assess the Veteran's right hip arthritis, gout of the bilateral toes and knees, and thoracolumbar spine disability.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded due to the need for additional examinations and consideration of his claims.

The Veteran's service-connected lumbar spine disability has been granted an increased rating to 20 percent, effective February 8, 1998.

The Board found that the Veteran does not have residuals of an injury to the right arm and hand, a low back disability, or a right knee disability related to his military service. The VA examination did not support the Veteran's claims.

The Board has determined that new and material evidence has been presented to reopen the claim for service connection for a back disability, but it is denied as there is no competent medical evidence linking any current back disability to service. The Veteran's claims for cervical spine disability (neck) and nerve disability of the right upper extremity are also denied.

The Board found that the Veteran does not have a back disability attributable to his active military service and denied his claim for service connection.

The Board has remanded the case due to conflicting medical opinions regarding whether the Veteran's lumbar spine disability is related to his service-connected knee disabilities. The claim will be further developed and adjudicated.

The Veteran withdrew his appeal regarding the issues of entitlement to service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder other than posttraumatic stress disorder, as well as his appeals regarding the issues of entitlement to increased evaluations for service-connected degenerative disc disease of the thoracolumbar and cervical spines.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for further development, including a new examination to assess his blood disorder and its effects on his medications. The case will also be reviewed for an increased rating of degenerative disc disease.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded to obtain additional medical records and for further VA examinations. The issues of service connection for various conditions are under review.

The Veteran's lumbar spine strain is manifested by severely reduced forward flexion of the thoracolumbar spine, but not ankylosis. The criteria for an evaluation in excess of 40 percent have not been met.