Back / lumbar spine decisions — 2016

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded due to the need for clarification of his headache symptoms and additional development regarding his cervical spine disability.

The Veteran's low back disability is found to be service-connected, and he meets the criteria for a TDIU due to his service-connected disabilities.

The Board has granted service connection for the Veteran's lumbar spine disorder, finding that it was aggravated during active service. The remaining issues of service connection for psychiatric disability, skin disorder, bilateral plantar fasciitis, and bilateral flat feet are remanded.

The Board found no evidence of a chronic headache disorder during service and denied the Veteran's claim for service connection. The Board also noted that any headaches are not related to his service-connected cervical spine disability.

The Board dismissed all service connection claims due to the Veteran's withdrawal of his appeals.

The Board found that the Veteran's current low back disability was not incurred in service and is not related to his service-connected disabilities. The neck disability claim is also denied as there is no evidence of a nexus between the condition and service.

The Veteran's cervical spine disability has been granted service connection and assigned a 10 percent initial rating effective September 26, 2003. The appeal is resolved in the Veteran's favor.

The Board has granted service connection for lumbar and cervical spine disorders as secondary to the Veteran's service-connected traumatic arthritis of the right ankle.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims due to incomplete records and need for further examination regarding his service-connected lumbosacral strain.

The Veteran's appeal for a higher initial rating for his lumbar spine disability has been dismissed as he withdrew the issue before the Board could make a decision.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's lumbar spine disability is service-connected, but his right knee, left knee, and right arm disabilities are not.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's current low back disorder and bilateral leg disorder are not related to service, and thus denied both claims for service connection.

The Veteran's claim alleging clear and unmistakable error (CUE) in the March 1995 rating decision is dismissed because that decision was subsumed by an October 2005 Board decision.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's degenerative disc disease of the cervical spine is service-connected, with no new and material evidence presented for his claim of a peripheral nerve condition. The issue of secondary service connection for cubital tunnel syndrome remains pending.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for back and hip disabilities, left shoulder disability, and lower left eyelid scar were not granted. However, the Veteran was granted service connection for a left shoulder scar with a compensable rating (0-10%).

The November 2001 rating decision denied service connection for bilateral foot pain and granted a 20% rating for lumbar strain. The May 2003 rating decision denied an increased rating for degenerative disc disease of the lumbosacral spine.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for low back disorder, left hip disorder, left leg condition, acquired psychiatric disorder (including major depression), and migraine headaches have been denied as the evidence does not support a finding that these conditions are related to his military service or any service-connected disabilities.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded due to the need for updated records, a VA examination regarding his back disability, and an updated VA examination of his right foot scars.

The Veteran's claim for a TDIU prior to December 31, 2009 was denied as his service-connected disabilities did not preclude substantially gainful employment.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to the need for additional development, including obtaining medical records and service personnel records.