Back / lumbar spine decisions — 2015

The Board has granted service connection for the Veteran's lumbar spine disorder as secondary to his service-connected left ankle and right knee disabilities. The claim for an initial compensable evaluation for his right knee disability is remanded due to inadequate examination in March 2010.

The Board found that the April 2004 and February 2009 rating decisions did not contain CUE in denying service connection for flat feet and back disability, respectively. The August 2009 decision denied service connection for a knee condition due to lack of evidence linking it to service or pre-existing conditions.

The Veteran's right knee arthritis is found to be related to his in-service parachute jumps. His lumbosacral spine disability does not meet the criteria for a higher rating.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded to the RO for scheduling a video-conference hearing. The claims of service connection for cervical and lumbar spine disabilities are not currently addressed.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for further development, including obtaining information about his service in Korea and the 7th Ordnance Company.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's current bilateral foot neuropathy is related to service, and therefore grants service connection for this condition. The issue of service connection for a back disability and bilateral knee disabilities are referred to the AOJ for further action.

The Board has determined that a VA examination is needed to assess the etiology of the Veteran's back and neck disabilities, as well as to determine if service connection can be granted for these conditions. The case will be remanded for this purpose.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for further development and readjudication of his claims, including obtaining additional medical records and addressing the TDIU claim.

The Board denied all service connection claims, including those for schizophrenia, anxiety and depression, hearing loss, tinnitus, residuals of a fractured left tibia, back condition, and sciatica of the left lower extremity. The decision also addressed whether new and material evidence had been submitted to reopen a claim of entitlement to service connection for schizophrenia.

The Veteran's claim for a higher disability rating for lumbosacral strain was granted, with the current effective date being unknown. The claims for service connection of right and left knee disabilities were not addressed in this decision.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for various conditions, including PTSD and knee disabilities, were denied. The Board found no valid medical diagnosis of the claimed disabilities based on invalid symptom reports.

The Veteran's claims for service connection and increased ratings were denied. The effective date of the grant of a 60 percent rating for diabetic nephropathy with hypertension was not established as prior to October 5, 2012.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to inadequate medical opinions and compliance with previous remands.

The Veteran is seeking to reopen his claim for service connection for a back disorder. The VA has not attempted to obtain relevant medical records from the Mayo Clinic and Carlisi Chiropractic Center, which may contain evidence pertinent to his claim. As such, the case must be remanded to obtain these records.

The Board found that the Veteran's current low back disabilities, including degenerative disc disease and arthritis, are not related to service. The preexisting spina bifida occulta was not subject to superimposed disease or injury during service.

The Veteran seeks service connection for current back, right shoulder, and skin disabilities. The Board has remanded the case to obtain VA treatment records and schedule a VA examination.

The Board has granted service connection for bilateral cataracts, finding that the Veteran's current eye condition is at least as likely as not caused by his service-connected diabetes mellitus.,For the skin condition claim, additional development is needed to determine if there is a link between the Veteran's in-service exposure and his current skin rash.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's low back and bilateral knee disabilities were not incurred or aggravated during service, and thus denied his claims for service connection.

The Veteran's claim for a higher rating for cervical spine degenerative disc disease was denied. However, she received a separate 20 percent rating for limitation of motion due to left shoulder pain from October 2, 2013, to March 10, 2015.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for further development, including obtaining additional VA and private treatment records, as well as any pertinent SSA disability benefits records. A supplemental opinion from the social worker who conducted the April 2015 VA Social and Industrial Survey will also be obtained.