Back / lumbar spine decisions — 2017

The Board has granted service connection for bilateral hearing loss disability and found that the Veteran's current diagnosis of this condition is related to his active duty service in Vietnam. The claim for residuals of sprained right ankle was reopened, but denied as new and material evidence had not been received. Service connection for low back disability and hypertension were also granted.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded due to the need for additional VA examinations and/or opinions, as well as obtaining relevant treatment records from the VA clinics in Oakwood, Georgia, and Huntington VAMC.

The Board has reopened the Veteran's claims and found that there is new and material evidence to support service connection for a left hand disorder, low back disorder, left knee disorder, and neck disorder. The diagnoses are supported by private medical records and VA examinations. The in-service injuries have been established, and the relationship between current disabilities and service has also been established.

The Veteran's claims for increased evaluations of his service-connected lumbosacral strain with degenerative arthritis and DJD, right Achilles tendonitis, and left ankle strain are being remanded due to the need for additional examinations.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for further development and examination to determine the nature and etiology of his left shoulder disability, back disability, and GERD. The claim of service connection for migraine headaches will be deferred as it is intertwined with the claims for back disability.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for further development of his claims, including additional VA examinations and the provision of a complete medical history to ensure accurate evaluations.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for a low back condition, alcoholism, diabetes mellitus II, and major depressive disorder as secondary to alcoholism. The reasons are provided in the decision.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for lumbar strain with degenerative arthritis and right leg sciatica, finding that there is no evidence of a nexus between these conditions and her active service.

The Veteran's claims for service connection are being remanded due to the need for additional examinations and the retrieval of pertinent VA and private treatment records.

The Board has reopened the Veteran's claim for service connection for a low back disability and granted it, finding that there is at least an equipoise of evidence regarding whether the current low back disability is related to his service-connected leg length discrepancy.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities have been found to preclude him from securing and following substantially gainful employment, leading to a grant of TDIU effective March 23, 2013.

The Veteran's claim for higher ratings for his lumbar spine disability and TDIU is being remanded due to the need for additional development, including VA examinations.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for various disabilities, finding that there is no evidence of current diagnoses or in-service incurrence or aggravation.,Service connection cannot be established as the Veteran did not provide any treatment records indicating he currently suffers from these conditions.

The Board has determined that it is at least as likely as not that the Veteran's lumbar spine disorder developed during his military service, and grants service connection for this condition.

The Veteran's cervical and thoracolumbar spinal disorders are found to be related to service, with the current diagnoses of DDD and arthritis. The Board finds that these conditions more nearly approximate a disability rating of 40 percent for the thoracolumbar spine disabilities.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims of service connection for back, cervical spine, and right leg disabilities. The claim for a right hip disability was not addressed in this decision.,The Board found that there is no evidence showing any chronic conditions related to the Veteran's claimed disabilities during his active duty or within one year after discharge.

The Veteran's PTSD with MDD is rated at 50 percent disabling since April 20, 2017. The other conditions have been rated appropriately based on their severity and impact on the Veteran.

The Veteran's claim for an increased rating in excess of 20 percent for his service-connected traumatic strain of the lumbar spine is being remanded due to the need for a VA examination and proper VCAA notice.

The Veteran's claim of entitlement to a TDIU prior to November 14, 2015 is being remanded due to procedural deficiencies and the need for additional development including obtaining SSA records.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's low back disability did not originate in service, was not manifest within one year of discharge from service, and is not otherwise etiologically related to any period of active duty. The claims for secondary service connection for bilateral knee disability, neurological bilateral foot disability, and sciatic nerve disability have also been denied.