Back / lumbar spine decisions — 2016

The Veteran's claims for service connection were denied as his conditions are not shown to be related to military service.

The Board has remanded the case due to outstanding VA treatment records and failure to appear for a scheduled hearing. The Veteran's service connection claims for low back, right knee, and left knee disabilities are pending.

The Veteran's initial claims for higher ratings for his knee disabilities were denied. However, he was granted temporary total evaluations due to right and left total knee replacements.,His claims of service connection for a left ankle disability and a right ankle disability have been reopened.

The Veteran's service connection claims for bilateral hearing loss, lumbosacral strain, and bilateral pes planus and ingrown toenails have been granted. The Board found that the Veteran had pre-existing conditions in service but did not aggravate them during service.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's lumbar degenerative disc disease is related to his service, specifically from wearing heavy and uncomfortable equipment during his service in Iraq. As such, the claim for service connection is granted.

The Board has decided to remand the case for additional development, including obtaining medical records and service personnel records. The Veteran's claim for service connection for a low back disorder will be reconsidered after these actions.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for back disability, head injury, hypertension, and acquired psychiatric disorder (including PTSD). The claim for migraine headaches was not addressed. The Veteran is found to have a need for aid and attendance due to his nonservice-connected disabilities.

The Veteran's claims for service connection are being remanded due to the need for additional development and examination.

The Veteran's cervical myositis and C5-6 degenerative disc disease are being remanded for further examination to determine if they were aggravated by his service-connected lumbar strain.

The Veteran's spine disabilities, specifically degenerative joint disease of the thoracic and lumbar spine, are rated at 20 percent prior to July 9, 2009, and 40 percent beginning from that date. The Veteran also has right lower extremity radiculopathy as a neurological manifestation of his spine disability, which is separately rated at 10 percent prior to July 9, 2009, and 20 percent thereafter.

The Veteran's claims of service connection for cervical degenerative disc disease, bilateral hearing loss, and tinnitus have been withdrawn. The claim of an increased disability rating for right anterior leg tibialis muscle hernia has also been withdrawn.

The Veteran's chronic vasomotor rhinitis with recurrent epistaxis is found to be related to service, and service connection for this condition is granted. The Board finds that additional development is needed for the remaining issues on appeal.

The Veteran's cervical spine disorders are being remanded for further development, including obtaining medical opinions and additional VA treatment records.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including COPD and back disorders, have rendered her unable to maintain substantially gainful employment consistent with her education and occupational background.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's diagnosed conditions, including his claimed lumbar and cervical spine disorders, bilateral hand and shoulder conditions, bilateral knee and hip disorders, are at least as likely as not related to service. The appeal is granted.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral knee disorder and back disorder, finding that there was no evidence linking these conditions to his active service or service-connected hypertension. The Veteran's hypertension is currently rated as 10 percent disabling.

The Veteran's lumbar spine disability was granted, but no specific rating is assigned. The issues of increased ratings for left and right lower extremity radiculopathy are addressed.

The Board has granted the petition to reopen the claim for service connection for a back disability, and determined that new and material evidence has been received. The case is now remanded for further development.

The Veteran is seeking service connection for various conditions, including right and left ankle disorders, hip disorders, upper extremity disorders, leg disorders, neck disorder, back disorder, and headaches. The appeal includes claims of secondary service connection.,The Veteran seeks service connection for surgical complications of a pregnancy that occurred prior to her entry into active duty.

The Veteran's back disability is currently rated at 40 percent, and he has a separate rating for bowel impairment. The claims for right foot disorder and left foot disorder are denied.