Back / lumbar spine decisions — 2016

The Board has determined that the Veteran's hypertension began during service and is therefore granted service connection. The low back disability and epistaxis claims are remanded for additional development.

The Veteran has withdrawn all issues currently on appeal, and as such, the appeal is dismissed.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's deviated nasal septum, obstructive sleep apnea, left knee injury, low back disability (claimed as secondary to a left knee injury), right shoulder disability (claimed as right shoulder bursitis), and bilateral hearing loss are all service-connected.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded due to the failure to provide notice of a scheduled Board hearing. The issues are about service connection for neck and lumbosacral spondylosis, with an initial rating issue.

The Board has determined that additional development is needed to properly adjudicate the Veteran's claims for service connection for cervical and lumbar spine disabilities. This includes obtaining VA treatment records, arranging for an addendum opinion from a VA examiner regarding the etiology of these conditions, and considering all evidence in the decision.

The Board found no claim for service connection prior to February 23, 2005 and thus denied the earlier effective date claim.

The Board has determined that additional development is needed for the Veteran's claims, including obtaining medical opinions regarding his right shoulder and low back disabilities. The case will be returned to the AOJ for further action.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining VA examinations and SSA records.

The Board has granted service connection for pes planus and denied service connection for a low back disability and bilateral hip disorders. The Veteran is now service-connected for pes planus.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for an earlier effective date for service connection of a lumbar spine disability, finding that October 5, 2007 is the correct date. The issues on appeal regarding right shoulder condition and initial rating for lumbar spine disability are addressed in the REMAND portion.

The Board found that the Veteran's current back disorder is not causally or etiologically related to his military service, and thus denied his claim for service connection.

The Veteran's low back disability is being remanded for further development, including a VA examination and an etiology opinion.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims of service connection for prostate cancer, polycythemia, residuals of frostbite of upper and lower extremities, degenerative disc disease of lumbar spine, right knee disability, and left knee disability. The reasons were that there was no evidence of exposure to Agent Orange or asbestos in service, and the current conditions did not meet the criteria for direct service connection.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development due to new evidence received after a July 2015 supplemental statement of the case. The issues include service connection for low back disability, acquired psychiatric disability including PTSD and depression, left ankle disability, and TDIU.

The Board has granted service connection for back and neck disabilities, finding that the Veteran's current conditions are at least as likely as not related to his military service. The initial ratings have been assigned.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims of service connection for cervical spine, lumbar spine, right foot, and left shoulder disabilities. The gastrointestinal disability was not found to be incurred in or due to his active duty.

The Board found that the Veteran's current back disability did not start in service and is not related to his military service, including a helicopter fall during ACDUTRA service in June 1990. As such, the claim for service connection was denied.

The Board has remanded the case due to incomplete records and new evidence submitted by the Veteran. The issue of service connection for a low back disability will be reconsidered.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's degenerative disc disease of the cervical and lumbar spine is directly related to his in-service motor vehicle accident, granting service connection for these conditions.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, especially residuals of lumbar strain, left and right knee chondromalacia, left and right ankle strains, and left and right foot plantar fasciitis with hallux valgus, preclude him from securing or following a substantially gainful occupation. The Board grants a TDIU.