Back / lumbar spine decisions — 2016

The Veteran's service-connected status post laminectomy with advanced osteoarthritis of the thoracolumbar spine is currently rated at 40 percent, effective January 15, 2015.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including a new VA examination to assess the severity of his lumbar and cervical spine disabilities.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection, increased ratings for left knee disability and TDIU due to service-connected disabilities. The issues of entitlement to service connection have not been addressed.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claim of entitlement to service connection for cervical spine disability due to inadequate examination and opinion regarding the etiology of any diagnosed condition.

The Board has reopened the claim for service connection for a low back disorder and finds that new evidence received since the last final denial supports the Veteran's contention that his current low back disorder is related to service.

The appeal is being remanded due to the need for additional records from the Social Security Administration (SSA). The Veteran's claim will be reconsidered after these records are obtained.

The Veteran's appeal for service connection of a back disability has been dismissed due to his death.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for hearing loss was denied as there is no evidence of a current disability.,Service connection for pes planus was denied because the mild pes planus noted at entry did not worsen during active service.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for further development of his claims for service connection for a recurrent lumbar spine disorder and an acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD, anxiety, and depression.

The Veteran's claims for increased disability rating and TDIU have been remanded due to the need for additional examinations, including a VA spine examination. The Veteran also needs to provide updated VA treatment records.

The Veteran's claims for service connection are being remanded due to the need for additional development, including obtaining relevant VA treatment records and attempting to obtain Fort Sill Army Community Hospital records. The Veteran is also required to undergo a VA examination to determine the nature and etiology of his right knee and lumbar spine disorders.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development due to incomplete records and need for further medical opinions.

The Board found no evidence of a chronic back disability or leg numbness during service, and the VA examiner concluded that any current low back condition is not related to service. The bilateral leg numbness was also not linked to service.

The Veteran is granted a disability rating of 60 percent for his lumbar spine disability from April 5, 2012 to December 16, 2014. He remains entitled to a 20 percent disability rating at all other times during the period on appeal.

The Board found that the Veteran's low back disability is not related to his active duty service and denied his claim.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for further development, including a new VA examination to assess the severity of his degenerative disc disease and consideration of his claim for TDIU.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including obtaining VA treatment records and providing medical opinions regarding asbestos exposure, hepatitis B, and C. The Veteran's claims of service connection for these conditions are pending.

The Veteran's major depressive disorder and low back disability are found to have begun in service, with no evidence of pre-service onset or intervening events that would warrant reopening the claims. Both conditions are considered direct service connection cases.,Service records document the Veteran's complaints of psychiatric symptoms during active duty, including insomnia and depression, as well as her current diagnosis of major depressive disorder. Her low back disability is also linked to in-service injuries, with no evidence of pre-service onset or intervening events that would warrant reopening the claims.

The Veteran's appeals for increased ratings and service connection were denied. The claim to reopen a disability manifested by fatigue (undiagnosed illness) was not supported by new and material evidence, while the claim to reopen a disability manifested by joint aches (undiagnosed illness) was supported by such evidence.

The Veteran's low back disability is rated at the maximum available under the General Rating Formula for Diseases and Injuries of the Spine, with an evaluation of 40 percent. The bilateral pes planus has been granted a 30 percent rating since October 30, 2009. Hyperhidrosis of the palms is not service-connected.