Back / lumbar spine decisions — 2015

The Veteran's cervical spine degenerative joint disease and degenerative disc disease were not found to be related to service, resulting in a denial of the claim.

The Board has remanded the case due to an undeliverable notification letter for a requested videoconference hearing. The Veteran's claims of service connection for various conditions are pending.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for additional development due to incomplete medical records and insufficient opinions regarding service connection.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for further development, including obtaining VA treatment records and scheduling the Veteran for a VA examination to determine the nature and etiology of his psychiatric disorder(s), low back disability, gastrointestinal disability, and hypertension.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded for additional development, including a VA examination to assess the severity of his service-connected low back condition and an evaluation of whether he is capable of substantial gainful employment due to his disabilities.

The Veteran is seeking service connection for a low back disability. He contends that he injured his back in service when thrown from a vehicle after hitting a landmine and has experienced continued problems since then.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for further development to determine the nature and etiology of his claimed lumbar spine, neck, bilateral knee disabilities, and left ankle disability.

The Board finds that the Veteran has a chronic low back disability that became manifest in service and has persisted since, granting service connection for a low back disability.

The Board has remanded the case due to the need for additional development, including obtaining VA treatment records and verifying the Veteran's duty status during his service.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's low back disability is service-connected, as it was first diagnosed during active duty and not attributable to an intercurrent cause. However, there is no evidence of current right ear hearing loss for VA purposes.

The Veteran's low back disability is considered an undiagnosed illness and has been granted service connection as it became compensable to a degree of at least 10% within the applicable time frame.

The Veteran's claims for initial compensable disability ratings for levoscoliosis of the lumbar spine and left knee strain were denied as there was no functional impairment to support a higher rating.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss is not service-connected and has been denied.,Prior to November 22, 2013, the Veteran's back strain with intervertebral disc syndrome of the lumbosacral spine was rated as 10 percent disabling and remains denied.,Effective from November 22, 2013, the Veteran's back strain with intervertebral disc syndrome of the lumbosacral spine has been granted a 20 percent rating.,The Veteran's follicular eczema with acne is not service-connected and has been denied.

The Board finds that the Veteran did not suffer a concussion or headaches as a result of her May 2005 fall at a VA medical facility. Therefore, she is not entitled to compensation under 38 U.S.C.A. § 1151 for residuals of a concussion and headaches.

The Veteran's lumbar spine disability has been rated at 40 percent since October 8, 2014. The VA determined that the condition warranted this rating based on its current manifestations and functional loss.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's current back disability is related to his military service, granting service connection for a back disorder.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for postoperative lumbar herniated disc and osteoarthritis of the thoracic spine were denied as there was no evidence to support higher disability ratings under the applicable rating criteria.

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

The Board found that the Veteran did not have a low back injury or disease during service and that his current degenerative joint/disc disease is not related to service. The claim for service connection was therefore denied.

The Veteran's low back disability was characterized by flexion limited to 45 degrees, including consideration of pain on motion. There is no evidence of unfavorable ankylosis of the thoracolumbar spine or unfavorable ankylosis of the entire spine. The Board denied a rating in excess of 20 percent from June 1, 2010 to June 12, 2015 and a rating in excess of 40 percent since.