Back / lumbar spine decisions — 2017

The Veteran's back, bilateral ankle, and bilateral foot disabilities were not incurred in or aggravated by service or a service-connected disability.,Service connection for these conditions was denied.

The Board finds that the Veteran's combined service-connected disabilities render him unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation, effective as of April 30, 2010.

The Veteran's service-connected mechanical low back strain is not entitled to an extraschedular rating as the symptoms and level of disability are adequately contemplated by his assigned schedular rating.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities have prevented him from securing or following substantially gainful employment since September 15, 2010.

The Board found that the Veteran's current low back disability is not related to his service and denied his claim for service connection.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's lumbar scoliosis and kyphosis are congenital defects, not incurred or aggravated by service. The preponderance of evidence does not support a finding of service connection for these conditions.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's lumbar spine disorder is not related to service and denied his claim for service connection.

The Veteran's appeal has been withdrawn by the appellant, resulting in dismissal of all issues.

The Veteran has withdrawn his appeals regarding service connection for bilateral pes planus and increased ratings for adjustment disorder with depressed mood, migraine headaches, post-operative right shoulder bursitis with scarring, lumbar spine strain, and bilateral hearing loss. The Board has no further jurisdiction to consider these matters.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss, low back disability, and right knee disability are pending. The Board has determined that the evidence does not establish a current disability for any of these conditions as defined by VA standards.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining Social Security Administration records and scheduling a VA examination to assess the severity of her posttraumatic stress disorder. The issues of service connection for tinnitus and a back disorder are also being remanded.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for a neck condition and back condition. The claim for an acquired psychiatric disability is pending in the Appeals Management Center (AMC) as part of this appeal.

The Board has granted service connection for hypertension and found that it had its onset in service. The Veteran's other claims seeking increased ratings are remanded due to incomplete records.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded due to the need for additional examinations and consideration of outstanding VA treatment records.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for bilateral hip disabilities and a lumbar spine disability has been denied as there is no evidence of such conditions during the pendency of his claims. The Board finds that the preponderance of the evidence does not support the presence of these disabilities.

The Board has decided to remand the case for further development and examination, including obtaining a VA opinion on the nature and etiology of any current lower back disability.

The case is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining medical records and scheduling the Veteran for a VA examination to assess his lumbar spine disability. The issues of increased rating and TDIU are inextricably intertwined.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for a new VA examination to determine the current severity of his lumbosacral spine disability.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for a low back disability, finding that there is no evidence of chronic back condition or illness in service and no continuity of symptomatology after service. The VA examiner's opinion was considered more probative than the Veteran's statements.

The Veteran's claims for bilateral hearing loss, PTSD, and post-concussive headaches were denied. The claim for PTSD was not addressed as it resulted in a rating increase prior to the decision.