Back / lumbar spine decisions — 2015

The Board denied service connection for lumbar spine and knee disabilities, finding that the current conditions are not causally related to service or service-connected bilateral pes planus.

The Board found that the Veteran's seizures were not caused by VA treatment and did not find proximate causation. Therefore, his claims for compensation under 38 U.S.C. § 1151 and secondary service connection are denied.

The Veteran is entitled to an effective date of April 27, 2004 for the grant of a TDIU due to service-connected disabilities preventing him from obtaining or maintaining substantially gainful employment.

The Veteran's claim for an increased rating for his service-connected lumbar spine degenerative disc disease was denied. The Board found that the evidence did not meet the criteria for a higher evaluation, as there was no unfavorable ankylosis or incapacitating episodes totaling at least 6 weeks in the past year.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's lumbar spine disorder and acquired psychiatric disorder are not related to her service, thus denying both claims.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including obtaining VA treatment records from 1996 to 2006 and seeking an opinion regarding whether falls resulting from left leg weakness caused the Veteran's back disabilities.

The Veteran's right shoulder disability was rated at 30 percent from February 27, 2009 to June 1, 2010.

The Veteran's cervical spine radiculopathy of the upper extremities was manifested by mild incomplete paralysis from August 9, 2013. The Board has granted a separate 40 percent disability rating for this condition.

The Board has remanded the case due to inadequate efforts in obtaining VA treatment records from March 1982. The Veteran's claim for service connection for a low back disability will be reconsidered based on this new information.

The Board found that the Veteran's current lumbar spine and bilateral knee conditions are not related to service, with the exception of a single incident in 1969 where he injured his back. The claim for service connection was denied.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claim for service connection for a back disability due to inadequate examination and scheduling issues. The case is now pending with instructions on how to proceed.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for lower back and sinus disorders due to inadequate medical opinions. The case will be returned to the AOJ for further development.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for a low back disability and for retinal detachment in the left eye as secondary to service-connected aphakia of the left eye. The Board found that the current diagnoses did not have onset during or immediately after service, were not related to active service, including an injury sustained in November 1965, and did not meet the criteria for direct service connection.

The Veteran's left ear hearing loss is reasonably shown to have resulted from his exposure to noise trauma in service. The Board finds that it is reasonably shown that the Veteran's spine disability was incurred in service.

The Board has remanded the case to the RO for further development due to an inadequate February 2013 VA examination. The Veteran was provided a new examination in July 2015, but a supplemental statement of the case must be issued.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for further development due to inadequate examination and other procedural issues.

The Board found that the Veteran's low back disorder, characterized as lumbosacral strain, is not etiologically related to any incidents or injuries sustained during his military service.

The Veteran's claim for a TDIU and increase rating for low back disability has been fully granted, effective September 16, 2010.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient medical opinion regarding the etiology of the Veteran's low back disability. The claim will be returned for further development.

The Board has remanded the case due to a hearing request and other procedural issues. The Veteran's claims for service connection for left hip degenerative joint disease and lumbar degenerative disc disorder are pending.