Back / lumbar spine decisions — 2016

The Board has granted service connection for low back and bilateral hip disabilities as secondary to the Veteran's service-connected right knee disability. The effective date of this grant is February 19, 2015.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development due to inadequate examination and other issues.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's current back disability, including degenerative disc disease and intervertebral disc disease of the lumbar spine, is not service-connected as it did not manifest during or within one year after his active duty service. The evidence does not support a finding of continuity of symptoms since service.

The Board has requested an outside medical opinion and is remanding the case for a VA examination to determine if the Veteran has a pars defect/fracture in his back, which could affect service connection.

The Veteran's claim for an increased disability rating in excess of 20 percent for lumbar strain remains before the Board after a previous denial. The Court has directed further development, including a new VA examination to address functional loss during flare-ups.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's current neck, back, and rib cage/chest disabilities are not related to his active service or any service-connected disability. The evidence does not support a finding of direct service connection for these conditions.

The Board has remanded the case for further development, including obtaining updated VA treatment records and any missing documents from SSA benefits. The Veteran's claims will be reconsidered after this additional development.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's current back disability is not related to a disease or injury in service and may not be presumed to be service-connected.

The Board has granted service connection for bilateral knee and lumbar spine disabilities, diagnosed to include osteoarthritis. The Veteran's claims of entitlement to increased ratings for PTSD, bilateral hearing loss, and coronary artery disease are remanded.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities have prevented him from securing and maintaining substantially gainful employment prior to May 22, 2012.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including obtaining updated VA treatment records and Social Security Administration records. The Veteran's representative suggested an addendum opinion regarding his GERD claim.

The Veteran's low back strain and radiculopathy of the left lower extremity were evaluated, but his claims for increased ratings were denied as they did not meet the criteria for higher evaluations under VA rating criteria.

The Veteran's tinnitus is likely related to his period of active service, and the Board finds service connection for tinnitus is warranted.

The Veteran's service-connected low back disability is rated at 40% from December 2, 2011. The Board found that the evidence did not support a higher rating for his sleep disorder.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for various conditions, including pseudofolliculitis barbae, acquired psychiatric disability, bilateral knee and hearing loss, burn scar disability, obstructive sleep apnea, TBI, high blood pressure, back disability, and tinnitus. The effective date for the grant of service connection for pseudofolliculitis barbae was not earlier than September 27, 2012.

The Board denied service connection for a lumbar spine disorder and bilateral lower extremity lumbar radiculopathy, finding that the evidence did not support a link to military service. The Veteran's TDIU claim was also denied.

The Veteran's claim for a higher disability rating for her service-connected degenerative disc disease of the lumbosacral spine with stenosis is being remanded due to the need for additional development, including a comprehensive VA orthopedic examination.

The Veteran's appeal of increased ratings for his service-connected disabilities was withdrawn. The claim for headaches, to include migraines, is denied as there is no evidence that the current headache disorder began during or is related to service.

The Board has determined that there is no evidence of a nexus between the Veteran's current cervical spine, low back, bilateral hip, and upper extremity neuropathy disabilities and his military service. The repetitive lifting and handling of heavy objects during active duty are not considered to have caused or aggravated any of these conditions.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claim for a higher rating for her lumbosacral spine disability, finding that the evidence does not support a rating in excess of 20 percent. The issue of entitlement to TDIU based on major depressive disorder remains pending.