Back / lumbar spine decisions — 2016

The Board has determined that the Veteran's claimed acquired psychiatric disorder, hypertension, heart disability, damaged teeth, bilateral shoulder disability, and low back disability are not service-connected as secondary to his service-connected conditions.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's back disorder and arthritis were not incurred or aggravated by service, and therefore denied his claim.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's pre-existing psychiatric disability was aggravated during his second and third periods of service, leading to a grant of service connection for this condition. The back disability is also presumed to have been aggravated by service.

The Veteran's right ear hearing loss does not meet the criteria for a disability rating under VA compensation standards.,The Veteran has established service connection for left ear hearing loss and tinnitus, both of which are related to in-service noise exposure.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's lumbar and cervical spine disorders are not related to his military service, as there is no evidence of a chronic condition in service or within one year after separation. The VA examiner concluded that the current conditions are not related to any aspect of active duty service.

The Board found no evidence of a chronic back disability during or within one year after service, and the medical opinions were against finding any relationship between the Veteran's current condition and his military service. The claim for service connection was therefore denied.

The Board has granted service connection for a back disability on the basis that it is aggravated by the Veteran's service-connected bilateral pes planus with mallet toes second through fourth toes on the right foot.

The Board has remanded the appeal for further development due to inadequate VA examination reports and issues are inextricably intertwined.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining a VA examination to evaluate the current severity and manifestations of his service-connected degenerative arthritis of the bilateral knee, lumbar spine/L5-S-1, and postoperative right ankle.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded to arrange for a Board hearing. The issues include reopening his claim for cervical degenerative disc disease, service connection for PTSD, rheumatoid arthritis, COPD, and insomnia, as well as an increased disability rating for lumbar strain and TDIU.

The Veteran does not have any of the claimed conditions due to his service.

The Board has determined that additional development is necessary before the claims can be fully adjudicated.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded to obtain additional records, verify his service periods, and provide updated examinations for his service-connected conditions.

The Veteran's degenerative disc disease of the lumbosacral spine has been rated at 40 percent since June 27, 2008, and remains at that level as of February 11, 2015. The Board affirms this rating.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for a low back condition was denied, and his increased rating for bilateral pes planus was granted. The issue of TDIU remains pending.

The Board has granted service connection for a lumbar spine disorder, to include degenerative joint disease (DJD), but denied service connection for a liver disorder to include hepatitis C.

The Board has reopened the claim for service connection of a low back disorder and granted it as secondary to a service-connected left knee disorder.

The Board has determined that additional development is needed for the Veteran's claims, including obtaining updated medical records and conducting further examinations to address his knee and back conditions. The total disability rating claim is also deferred pending completion of these tasks.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's appeal requires additional development and remand, including for a VA examination to determine if his depression is related to service or secondary to his service-connected disabilities. The claims for increased ratings of left ankle DJD and lumbar DDD also require further development.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for additional development due to incomplete records and failure to issue a statement of the case on the pleural thickening claim.