Back / lumbar spine decisions — 2017

The Veteran's appeal has been dismissed due to his death, and the Board has no jurisdiction to adjudicate the merits of this appeal.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities necessitate the need for regular aid and attendance, which has been established by medical evidence and consistent lay statements. As a result, the Veteran is granted special monthly compensation based on the need for regular aid and attendance.

The Veteran's lumbosacral spinal surgery necessitating convalescence from January 29, 2016 to May 31, 2016 is granted a temporary total rating.

The Board has reopened the claim of entitlement to service connection for a low back disorder and remanded it for additional development. The Veteran's current low back disorder may be related to his active service, but this needs to be determined by a VA examiner.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's right knee, left knee, and low back disabilities are not service-connected as they were not caused or aggravated by his service-connected bilateral pes planus with hammertoes and keratoderma (callosities) of both feet.

The Veteran's appeal regarding the initial evaluation for arthritis and degenerative disc disease of the lumbar spine status-post laminectomy has been granted. The effective date is to be determined.

The Board found that the Veteran's low back disorder did not manifest during service, arthritis did not manifest within one year from separation from service, and is not related to service.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for a psychiatric disorder, to include PTSD; a back disability; and bilateral hearing loss have been denied as there is no evidence of current disabilities or a link between the claimed conditions and service.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's low back condition is substantially due to his service-connected bilateral knee disabilities and depression, which caused obesity. As a result, the claim for service connection for degenerative arthritis and degenerative disc disease of the lumbar spine is granted.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including rescheduling VA examinations and obtaining updated medical records.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for pulmonary embolism, lumbar spine injury with degenerative joint disease, and neuritis of the right peroneal nerve with complex regional pain syndrome due to a lack of current diagnosis.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to a lack of updated treatment records and for further examination of the Veteran's low back disability.

The Veteran's claims for right ankle, right knee, and low back disorders were denied. The claim for a low back disorder was reopened but remains denied as there is no evidence of arthritis within one year of service separation or that the current condition is related to service.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's low back disorder with radiating hip pain and right knee disorder are at least in equipoise as to being related to service, thus granting service connection for these conditions.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for a low back disorder, including degenerative joint disease and degenerative disc disease of the lumbar spine, is being remanded due to the need for additional development. The examiner will be asked to determine if the mild degenerative disc disease noted on an x-ray in 1997 pre-existed his period of service or was aggravated by it.

The Veteran's gastroesophageal reflux disease, cervical degenerative disc disease with spondylosis C3-C7, lumbar degenerative disc disease with neuritis L5-S1, left knee degenerative joint disease, and right knee degenerative joint disease have been rated as 10 percent each since May 4, 2010.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for additional development due to outdated examination records and outstanding medical evidence.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for a psychiatric condition, back condition and migraine headaches was denied as the evidence did not establish that these conditions were caused or aggravated by his service-connected disabilities.

The Board denied service connection for a low back disability, finding that the Veteran's current condition did not have its onset in service and was unrelated to his military service. The claim was also denied for other conditions.

The Veteran's appeal has been withdrawn due to the appellant requesting a withdrawal of the appeal.