Back / lumbar spine decisions — 2016

The Board has remanded the case for additional development due to incomplete records and inadequate VA examination opinions regarding the appellant's claimed left ankle disorder and back condition.

The Board has remanded the claims for additional development due to the need for VA medical examinations and further review of the evidence.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including obtaining payroll records and CME credits related to the appellant's service in the U.S. Army Reserves.

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

The Veteran's lumbar spine disability and sciatica of the lower extremities have been rated as 20 percent and 10 percent disabling, respectively. The increased ratings are granted.

The Veteran's cervical and lumbar spine disabilities are being remanded for further development, including consideration of the continuity of symptoms since service.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for right and left shoulder disabilities, as well as a thoracolumbar spine disability, are denied. The Board finds that there is no competent evidence linking these conditions to her active service or any service-connected disabilities.

The Veteran's claims for service connection and increased ratings were denied. The Board found no new and material evidence to reopen the claim of service connection for residuals, bilateral pes planus. Service connection was also denied for hypertension, right arm condition, conjunctivitis left eye, and rash of right upper thigh and leg.

The Board has determined that the Veteran does not have a current bilateral hip disability and therefore, service connection for this condition is denied. The back claim remains pending.

The Board is remanding the case for further development, including a VA examination to determine if any thoracolumbar spine disorder had its onset during active service or is otherwise related to any in-service disease, event, or injury. The TDIU claim will also be held in abeyance pending resolution of the service connection issue.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for degenerative disc disease L4-L5, with spinal stenosis and TDIU due to his service-connected post-operative pilonidal cyst. The evidence did not support a finding that the Veteran's lumbar spine disability was directly related to service or secondary to his service-connected condition.

The Veteran's claim for an evaluation in excess of 70 percent for major depression associated with chronic lumbosacral strain was granted, and he is now receiving a 70 percent rating effective from August 3, 2009.

The Board found that the Veteran's current low back disability was not incurred or aggravated in service and denied his claim for service connection. The claims of service connection for left ear hearing loss and acquired psychiatric disorder (bipolar disorder) are also denied.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for his low back disability and right lower extremity radiculopathy are being remanded due to the need for additional examination and development of the record.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded due to the need for additional development, including updated VA examinations and obtaining treatment records.

The Board found that the Veteran's low back disability was not incurred in or aggravated by active service and denied his claim on the merits.

The Board has granted the Veteran's application to reopen her claims for service connection for bilateral pes planus, bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus and a left knee disability. She is also granted service connection for bilateral pes planus on an aggravation basis and for tinnitus.

The Board found that the Veteran's hypertension, BPH, breathing/lung disorder, and back disorder were not incurred or aggravated by service, including as due to herbicide exposure. The preponderance of evidence is against these claims.

The Board has determined that further development is required before considering the Veteran's claim for service connection due to missing in-patient or clinical records from his time stationed at Berlin Meddac, Germany. Additionally, VA medical records and treatment logs related to motor vehicle accidents and a previous leg fracture are also needed.

The Board has dismissed the appeal due to the appellant's withdrawal of his claims.