Back / lumbar spine decisions — 2015

The Board has determined that the Veteran's low back disorder did not relate to his military service and therefore denied his claim for service connection.

The Veteran's claim for an increased rating for low back strain was denied as his condition did not meet the criteria for a higher disability rating.

The Board has remanded the case for further development, including an examination to address whether the Veteran's service-connected left ankle disability aggravated his claimed low back disorder.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not preclude him from securing and retaining substantially gainful employment.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims to reopen his service connection claims for bilateral shoulder, knee, hip, left ankle, and lower back disorders due to a lack of new and material evidence showing a link between these conditions and either service or a service-connected disability.

The Veteran's degenerative disc disease of the lumbar spine was not incurred in or aggravated by service. The Board found that his current condition is more likely due to natural progression and age-related changes, rather than a service injury.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's claimed disabilities are not related to service or secondary to his service-connected bilateral pes planus with hammertoe deformity.

The Veteran's appeal for service connection for right ear hearing loss was withdrawn.,Service connection for erectile dysfunction, secondary to PTSD, is granted. The evidence does not establish a direct relationship between the Veteran's PTSD and his erectile dysfunction.

The Board has determined that a timely Notice of Disagreement (NOD) was received with regard to the September 2006 and October 2006 rating decisions, which denied service connection for various conditions. The appeal is now remanded for issuance of a Statement of the Case regarding these issues.

The appeal is being remanded due to the possibility of missing service records. The Veteran's National Guard service from June 1989 to September 1992 and 1995 to 1999 needs to be verified, as well as any full-time duty in the National Guard during January to August 1991.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development to obtain service treatment records and VA/privately obtained medical records.

The Veteran's appeal for an earlier effective date for service connection of a lumbar spine disability has been denied. The RO is required to issue a Statement of the Case (SOC) on this matter.

The Veteran's low back disability was rated at 10 percent prior to November 18, 2014 and denied for a higher rating. Since then, he has been rated at 50 percent effective November 18, 2014.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including new VA examinations and medical opinions to address the severity of her service-connected low back disability and whether any right knee disability shown during the appeal is as likely as not (50 percent or greater probability) etiologically related to service.

The Veteran's cervical spine disability is currently rated at 20 percent, and the Board finds that this rating adequately reflects the severity of his condition.

The Veteran's appeals for service connection for traumatic brain injury and a sleep disorder were withdrawn. The Board granted higher ratings for right and left knee disabilities, including scars.,Headaches prior to June 20, 2014 are rated at 30 percent.

The Veteran's prostate cancer is granted service connection due to exposure to contaminated water at Camp Lejeune during his military service.,Service connection for the adrenal mass has been reopened based on new evidence, but its direct relationship to service remains unclear.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded due to his failure to appear for a scheduled BVA videoconference hearing. The case will be rescheduled at the Veteran's current address.

The Board has remanded the case due to incomplete service treatment records and the need for additional medical examinations. The Veteran's claims for left ear hearing loss, left shoulder disability, back disability, neck disability, and neurological spine disability are being reviewed.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development due to an inadequate VA examination in May 2011. The Veteran's lumbar spine disability is being reviewed again.