Back / lumbar spine decisions — 2016

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for low back pain and bilateral knee disability, finding that there is insufficient evidence to support a link between these conditions and his military service.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for further development due to outstanding VA treatment records and verification of claimed stressors.

The Board found that the Veteran's back disability was not caused by injury in service, did not manifest to a compensable degree within one year of separation from active service, and is not otherwise etiologically related to his active service.

The Veteran's claim for a higher disability rating for low back syndrome is denied as the evidence does not demonstrate incapacitating episodes or ankylosis. The current 40 percent rating adequately reflects his symptoms.

The Veteran's claims for increased disability ratings were denied. The Board found that the evidence did not meet the criteria for a higher rating under any applicable diagnostic codes.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not prevent him from securing and following substantially gainful employment, as his psychiatric disability does not impair his ability to work, and he is capable of performing sedentary or light physical activity.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's current right leg and low back disorders are not etiologically related to service or a service-connected disability.,Specifically, the VA examiner found no evidence of a current hip disorder present.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's claimed conditions, including left ear hearing loss, cardiac disorder, back disability, and neck disability, were not incurred or aggravated by service. The claim for service connection is denied.

The Veteran's claim for a higher disability rating for his service-connected degenerative disc disease of the lumbar spine is being remanded due to the need for additional development, including obtaining updated VA treatment records and providing the Veteran with a new VA examination.

The Veteran's claims for service connection were denied. The Board found no evidence of ischemic heart disease due to herbicide exposure, but granted service connection for hypertensive heart disease. Other claims were either not addressed or denied.

The Board has granted service connection for cervical and lumbar spine disorders, as well as a TDIU rating.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including PTSD, migraine headaches, thoracolumbar spine disability, and other conditions, render her unable to secure or follow substantially gainful employment. The Board grants a TDIU from January 12, 2005.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's current diagnoses of degenerative changes at L5-S1 and a thoracic/lumbar strain, along with his diagnosis of hypertension, are related to service. Service connection is granted for these conditions.

The Board has granted the Veteran's claims of service connection for bilateral hearing loss disability, tinnitus, and right knee disability. The low back disability claim was denied as not having had its onset in service or being otherwise related to service. Service connection is also denied for left knee disability and bilateral hip disability.

The Veteran's TDIU claim was remanded by the Board and is now being referred to the Director of VA's Compensation and Pension Service for consideration of entitlement to a TDIU in accordance with 38 C.F.R. § 4.16(b).

The Board has determined that the Veteran's low back disability did not have its clinical onset in service and is not otherwise related to active duty. The arthritis was not exhibited within the first post-service year.

Your claim for service connection for lumbosacral strain, previously claimed as a low back disability, has been granted and you are now receiving a 40 percent disability rating effective October 28, 2008.

The Veteran's service-connected ventral incisional hernia was granted as a result of new and material evidence, but his cervical spine and right shoulder disabilities remain denied.

The Board has remanded the case due to incomplete development and requests for additional records. The Veteran's claims for service connection for degenerative changes of the cervical and lumbar spine, as well as bunions and hammertoes, are pending.

The Board has remanded the case for further development, including obtaining records from FCI Butner, USP Terre Haute, and USP Lewisburg, as well as any court documents related to a civil claim filed in 1986 or 1987. The claims will be reconsidered after these developments.