Back / lumbar spine decisions — 2017

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for further development, including obtaining Social Security Administration records and scheduling a VA examination to assess the severity of his back disability. The TDIU issue will also be deferred until after the additional development.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims of service connection for low back and right leg disabilities, finding that there is no evidence to support a nexus between these conditions and his service-connected left leg condition.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities prevent him from obtaining and maintaining substantially gainful employment consistent with his level of education and occupational experience.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's current lumbar spine disability, including degenerative arthritis, spinal stenosis, and retrolisthesis, is related to his in-service motor vehicle accident. The Board also finds that bilateral lower extremity radiculopathy is secondary to the service-connected lumbar spine disability.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development to address the likelihood that his current disabilities were incurred or aggravated during active duty.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's claimed cervical spine, back, hip, and knee disabilities are not service-connected. The bilateral hearing loss is granted as secondary to service due to acoustic trauma. The respiratory disorder (COPD) is denied.

The Board has remanded the case for further development, including obtaining additional private treatment records from Dr. Garb from 1981 to May 2010.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient consideration of evidence regarding back pain and treatment shortly after service, as well as in relation to a psychiatric disability potentially related to a lumbar spine disability.

The Veteran's claim for a higher rating of his thoracolumbar spine disability was granted, and he is now rated at 40 percent. His service-connected bilateral hearing loss remains denied.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's lumbar spine disability and rhinitis are related to his period of active service, resulting in a grant of service connection for these conditions.

The Board has remanded the case due to the inextricability of the service connection claims for back and neck disabilities. The claim will be redjudicated after all relevant evidence is considered.

The Veteran's skin condition, tinea pedis (a fungal infection of the feet), and lumbar spine disorder were not incurred in or aggravated by service. The left eye corneal scar is related to service.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's current lumbar spine, cervical spine, respiratory disorder (manifested by sinusitis and/or rhinitis), and respiratory disorder (manifested by asthma) conditions are not related to her military service. Her hypertension is also not related to her military service.

The Board has remanded the case due to outstanding VA treatment records and a need for an addendum opinion regarding the Veteran's low back disability.

The Veteran's spine disability is currently rated at 20 percent, which does not meet the criteria for a higher rating under the General Rating Formula for Diseases and Injuries of the Spine. The Veteran's thoracolumbar spine disability is not shown to have been manifested by limitation of forward flexion to 30 degrees or less or ankylosis.

The Board has granted service connection for chronic lumbar strain and lumbar spine DJD. The claim of service connection for an acquired psychiatric disability is denied.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for a lumbar spine disorder, finding that his September 1967 notice of disagreement was in response to an August 1967 rating decision denying service connection for a back injury. The evidence from the November 1967 VA examination did not create a separate disability claim.

The Board has determined that the Veteran does not have current diagnoses of cervical radiculopathy, lumbar radiculopathy, neuropathy of the lower extremities, or neuropathy of the upper extremities. Therefore, service connection for these conditions is denied.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for lumbar and thoracic spine disabilities, finding that there was no evidence of a nexus between his current conditions and his military service.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's left knee disability, back disability, and left ear hearing loss are not attributable to his active service.