Back / lumbar spine decisions — 2016

The Board has remanded the case due to scheduling issues and will handle any additional development or other appropriate action in an expeditious manner.

The Board has reopened the Veteran's claims for service connection for a back disability and an acquired psychiatric disorder, including depressive disorder. The claim for service connection for nerve damage to the bilateral upper extremities is also granted. The decision does not specify any effective date.

The Board has reopened the Veteran's claim for service connection for a low back disability, but remands the case to obtain additional medical opinions and records.

The Board has remanded the case due to incorrect contact information and scheduling issues for previously scheduled VA examinations and a videoconference hearing.

The Veteran does not have a back disability, bilateral leg disability, bilateral arm disability, bilateral knee disability, or an acquired psychiatric disorder that was caused by his service.

The Veteran's service-connected lumbar spine disability is currently evaluated as 10 percent disabling. The Board finds that the evidence does not support a higher evaluation for this condition.

The Board has ordered additional development to determine the etiology of the Veteran's current degenerative arthritis of the lumbar spine, including whether it is related to service.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's degenerative disc disease of the lumbar spine is due to his military service and grants service connection for this condition.

The Board finds that the Veteran's claimed back and shoulder disabilities are not related to his military service. The evidence does not support a finding of in-service incurrence or aggravation, nor can it be established as secondary to any service-connected disability.

The Veteran's right ankle disability is currently rated as 20 percent disabling. The Board denied an evaluation in excess of 20 percent for the right ankle disability and did not address service connection issues due to lack of merit.

The Veteran's service-connected conditions do not meet the percentage requirements for a TDIU rating, and he is unable to secure or follow substantially gainful employment due to his disabilities.

The Veteran's appeal for a higher disability rating for his lumbar spine condition has been withdrawn before the Board could make a decision.

The Board has granted service connection for PTSD and depression, finding that the Veteran's current diagnoses are related to his military sexual trauma. The remaining issues of service connection have been remanded.

The Board has granted an initial rating of 40 percent for the Veteran's lumbar spine disability, effective from the date of the decision.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's low back disability is not service-connected, as there is no evidence of a chronic condition during or immediately following military service and the current condition is more likely due to a post-service injury. The claims for head and hip disabilities are also denied.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including verifying his periods of active duty and Army Reserve service, obtaining relevant VA treatment records, and scheduling a VA examination to determine the nature and etiology of his left ear hearing loss.

The Veteran's claim for an initial compensable rating for degenerative disc disease of the lumbar spine is being remanded due to evidence of worsening symptoms and a need for additional VA examination.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for additional development due to the need for VA examinations and medical opinions regarding his lower back disability, chronic headache disorder, and fatigue-related symptoms.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded due to the failure to issue a Statement of the Case on his service connection claim for lumbar spine degenerative arthritis and because he missed his scheduled videoconference hearing. His initial compensable rating claim for asbestosis with pleural plaques remains under review.

The Board found no direct service connection for the Veteran's back disability and denied secondary service connection as well. The evidence did not support a link between her in-service fall and current back conditions.