Back / lumbar spine decisions — 2016

The Board denied service connection for a right leg disability, to include arthritis of the knee and ankle, as it was not incurred in or aggravated by service. The claim is remanded due to the need for additional development regarding other issues.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including obtaining a supplemental medical opinion regarding the Veteran's lumbar spine disability and secondary service connection claim.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development due to incomplete records and need for a new medical opinion.

The Veteran's tinea pedis does not meet the criteria for a compensable rating, and his lumbosacral strain is rated at 40 percent, which is the maximum available under the applicable diagnostic codes.

The Veteran does not have a lumbar spine disability that is etiologically related to his active service.

The Board has remanded the case for a Travel Board hearing at the RO. The Veteran's appeal is currently in process and will be handled expeditiously.

The Veteran's low back disability was granted service connection. The Veteran's PTSD is rated at 70 percent since December 16, 2004 and in excess of 70 percent from August 22, 2006 through September 15, 2014.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development of her claims, including obtaining VA and private treatment records, scheduling a VA medical examination, and readjudicating the issues.

The Veteran's service-connected lumbar spine disability with radiculopathy has prevented him from obtaining or maintaining substantially gainful employment throughout the period on appeal.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining VA and private treatment records, translating any identified documents, scheduling a VA audiological examination, and readjudicating the claim for increased evaluation of his bilateral hearing loss.

The Board has granted service connection for PTSD and Degenerative Joint Disease of the Lumbar Spine, finding that these conditions are as likely as not related to active service.

The Board found that the Veteran's current diagnosed low back disorder is not related to service and denied his claim.

The Veteran's right wrist, recurring ear infections and sinusitis disabilities were incurred in service or are otherwise etiologically related to his active service.

The Board has determined that additional development is needed to obtain VA medical records and provide new opinions regarding the appellant's claims. The case will be remanded for these actions.

The Veteran's low back disability is rated at 10 percent, effective May 8, 2015. The Board found that the evidence did not support a higher rating prior to that date.

The Board has found that the Veteran's low back disorder was not incurred in or aggravated by service, may not be presumed to have been so incurred, and is not secondary to a service-connected disability. Therefore, the claim for service connection is denied.

The Veteran has withdrawn his appeals regarding the evaluations for degenerative disc disease of the lumbar spine, intermittent numbness in the right lower extremity, and intermittent numbness in the left lower extremity. The appeal is dismissed.

The Veteran's appeal for increased ratings of his service-connected low back syndrome with degenerative disc disease has been dismissed as the appellant withdrew their claims prior to a decision being made.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including scheduling a videoconference hearing before the Board.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining VA treatment records and scheduling a new examination to assess the current severity of his lumbar spine and left knee disabilities.