Back / lumbar spine decisions — 2016

The Veteran's claims for service connection have been granted, with the exception of her claim for allergic rhinitis and recurrent sinusitis. The Board finds that a VA examination is warranted to determine if these conditions are related to service.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for increased ratings and secondary service connection, finding no new and material evidence to reopen her previously denied claims.

The Board has dismissed the appeal of the Veteran's claim for service connection for a lumbosacral spine strain, to include degenerative arthritis of the lumbar spine. The claims for service connection for dyslipidemia and bilateral hearing loss disability have been granted. However, the claim for hypertension (to include as secondary to IHD) has not been resolved.

The Board has remanded the case due to the need for additional examinations and development of evidence, including obtaining updated VA treatment records.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded due to the need for additional examinations and development of his claims.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for increased rating for his service-connected psychological disorder and service connection for a back condition. The Veteran testified at his hearing that his service connected psychological disorder has worsened.

The Board has remanded the case due to the need for additional development, including obtaining VA treatment records and providing an addendum opinion from a medical professional.

The Board found no current back disability and denied the Veteran's claim for service connection.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's low back disability, including spondylolisthesis, is service connected as it manifested during his active duty service and there is no clear and unmistakable evidence to rebut the presumption of soundness at enlistment.

The Veteran's anterolisthesis L5-S1 of the lumbar spine has not been shown to result in unfavorable ankylosis or incapacitating episodes. The anxiety disorder has resulted in occupational and social impairment with reduced reliability and productivity since October 1, 2012.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for a videoconference or travel board hearing at the Huntington, West Virginia RO.

The Veteran's claim for increased ratings for his low back disability is being remanded due to the need to consider the old rating criteria and adjudicate under both the pre-September 2003 and post-September 2003 criteria.

The Veteran's claims for service connection are being remanded due to the need for additional development, including obtaining a new VA examination and medical opinions.

The Board found no relationship between any injury or disease in service and the current back disorder, thus denying service connection.

The Veteran has withdrawn his appeal of the claims for increased ratings for his lumbar spine, left lower extremity, bilateral hearing loss, and hemorrhoid disabilities, as well as entitlement to a TDIU.

The Board has found that the Veteran's degenerative arthritis of the cervical spine is attributable to service, and therefore grants service connection for this disability.

The Board finds that the Veteran's low back disorder is not related to his military service or any service-connected conditions, and thus denies the claim for service connection.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for gout, arthritis of the right shoulder, and a low back disorder. The appeals were based on direct service connection without any presumption or secondary to another condition.

The Board has decided to remand the Veteran's claims for further development due to incomplete records and need for additional medical opinions.