Back / lumbar spine decisions — 2016

The Board has granted service connection for a skin disability, but denied the remaining issues on appeal. The Veteran's skin disability is presumed to be due to herbicide exposure in Vietnam.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings were denied. The Board found that his service-connected back condition, spondylosis, degenerative disease associated with scar did not meet the criteria for a rating in excess of 20 percent. His right and left lower extremity radiculopathy were each rated at 10 percent prior to September 16, 2009, but no higher. The Veteran's service-connected left carpal tunnel syndrome was also rated at 10 percent.

The Veteran's appeal for an initial compensable rating for left knee disability has been withdrawn. The remaining issues of increased ratings for hepatitis C, sinusitis, and degenerative disc disease of the lumbosacral spine are being remanded.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development of his claims, including obtaining VA and private treatment records, scheduling examinations, and issuing a supplemental statement of the case.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining VA and private treatment records, scheduling a VA examination, and issuing a Statement of the Case.

The Board found that the Veteran does not have a current diagnosis of any of the claimed conditions and thus denied service connection for all issues.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims of service connection for right upper extremity disability, bilateral hearing loss, left upper extremity disability, cervical spine disability, lumbar spine disability, right knee disability, and left knee strain. The Veteran was also denied a compensable rating for his left axillary adenopathy with rhomboid spasm.

The Board found no evidence linking the current low back disability to service, and denied service connection for a low back disability. The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss is related to in-service noise exposure, but the tinnitus claim cannot be adjudicated without addressing the relationship between the hearing loss and tinnitus.

The Veteran's claims for clothing allowance for back brace and left knee brace in 2014 and 2015 were denied as the braces are not of a type that tends to wear or tear clothing, and thus do not qualify for a clothing allowance.

The Board has remanded the case for further examination and opinion regarding whether the Veteran's current back disorder is caused or aggravated by his service-connected left knee disability.

The Veteran's low back strain with degenerative disc disease was productive of painful flexion beginning at 45 degrees until December 23, 2010; when forward flexion was further limited to 30 degrees. The disability has not been productive of ankylosis at any time during the appeal period and the Veteran has not been prescribed bedrest secondary to his service-connected back disability at any time during the appeal period.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for neck and back disabilities, finding that there is no competent medical evidence linking these conditions to his military service.

The Board dismissed the appeal due to the death of the appellant.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for his service-connected spondylosis and degenerative disc disease of the lumbar spine and epidermophytosis of the feet were denied. The VA examinations did not find any unfavorable ankylosis or intervertebral disc syndrome, and the Veteran's symptoms are adequately addressed by current rating criteria.

The Board has remanded the case for further development, including additional examinations and opinions regarding the Veteran's low back disability and eczema.

The Board has decided the appeal is remanded for additional development, including obtaining updated VA treatment records and an addendum opinion from a medical examiner. The issues of service connection for back disability and bilateral leg pain are also being remanded.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings and service connection were denied. The penis laceration scar was rated at 10%, the anal fissure as a residual of a puncture wound to the left buttock was not compensable, tinnitus was granted, COPD with history of pneumonia was granted, and low back disorder was not granted.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development and consideration of the evidence received since the July 2014 supplemental statement of the case. The issues include entitlement to increased ratings for various disabilities, as well as service connection for a neurological disorder.

The Board has remanded the case for further development due to inadequate medical opinions regarding the etiology of the Veteran's claimed back and foot disabilities.

The Board has remanded the case due to the need for a new VA examination and additional information, including whether the Veteran's symptoms related to his service-connected lumbosacral strain can be distinguished from those of his degenerative joint disease.