Back / lumbar spine decisions — 2016

The Board has determined that the Veteran's low back and bilateral knee disabilities are service-connected. However, the reduction of his rating for bilateral hearing loss from 10% to noncompensable was improper due to insufficient consideration of pertinent laws and regulations.

The Board found that the Veteran's current low back disability, bilateral hearing loss, and tinnitus are not related to his service. The claims for these conditions were denied.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining VA treatment records and vocational rehabilitation records. A new VA examination will also be scheduled to assess the current severity of his service-connected low back disability.

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

The Veteran's low back disability is rated at 40 percent, effective September 8, 2009. The Board also granted separate ratings of 10 percent for radiculopathy in both lower extremities from January 14, 2010.

The Veteran seeks service connection for a low back disability, which he claims is related to an in-service fall. The Board finds that additional development is needed due to missing records and inadequate opinions.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining medical records and scheduling examinations to assess the severity of his service-connected disabilities.

The Board has reopened the Veteran's claim for service connection due to new medical opinions linking his current back disorder to injuries sustained during active duty. However, the Board finds that these injuries are less likely related to his military service and more likely secondary to a 1997 work injury.

The Veteran's low back disorder is found to be related to service, and the claim for service connection is granted.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for a skin disorder has been reopened. His PTSD is rated at 30 percent, and his hemorrhoids are not compensable.

The Veteran's low back disability, neck muscle spasms, and radiculopathy of the hips are all found to be related to his service-connected conditions. His bilateral hearing loss is also found to be related to noise exposure in service.,The right shoulder condition is not found to be caused or aggravated by his service-connected cervical spine disability.

The Board has granted service connection for arthritis of the thoracolumbar spine, arthritis of the cervical spine, and depression as secondary to the Veteran's service-connected spinal disabilities.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including the need to obtain a retrospective medical opinion regarding his lumbar spine condition from June 18, 2007 and May 14, 2012. The TDIU claim is also being remanded as it has a direct bearing on the lower back claim.

The Board found that the Veteran's current low back disorder and respiratory/lung disorder are not related to his active military service, including any asbestos exposure. The claims were denied.

The Board found that the appellant was not permanently incapable of self-support by reason of physical or mental defect at the date she attained the age of 18 years, and thus denied her claim for helpless child benefits.

The Board finds that the Veteran's current lumbar spine disorder, including sciatica, is not causally or etiologically related to his military service. The VA examinations conducted did not provide a clear conclusion with supporting data.

The Board has determined that further action is needed to adjudicate the Veteran's claim for service connection of a back disability. The case will be remanded to allow for additional development and consideration.

The Veteran's thoracolumbar spine degenerative disc disease and arthritis are found to be related to his active duty service, with the condition manifesting within one year of separation from service.

The Board has determined that new and material evidence has not been received to reopen the claim of service connection for a low back disability, and thus the claim is denied.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining medical records and scheduling VA examinations to assess the severity of his hearing loss, right knee strain, and lumbar spine strain.