Back / lumbar spine decisions — 2017

The Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorder, diagnosed as major depressive disorder (MDD), is found to be related to his active service. The Board grants service connection for this condition.

The Board found that the Veteran's low back disability clearly and unmistakably existed prior to service, and was not permanently aggravated during service.

The Board has granted service connection for a cervical spine disability, but separated the thoracic and lumbar segments from the cervical segment due to the Veteran's assertion that his claim encompasses all three segments.,Service connection was denied for a right ankle disability as there is no evidence of in-service occurrence or relationship to service.

The Veteran's low back disorder is being remanded for additional development to determine its etiology and whether it began during his periods of active duty for training (ACDUTRA).

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for further development, including a VA examination to assess the severity of his service-connected lumbar spine disability and an evaluation of his TDIU claim.

The Veteran's claims for service connection are being remanded due to the need for additional development, including rescheduling VA examinations and reviewing his VA treatment records.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's post-concussion headaches are related to service, but his low back disorder is not. The headaches have been found to be due to a head injury in service, while the low back disorder is attributed to normal aging and wear and tear.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's service-connected conditions do not warrant an increased rating or any other favorable determination.

The Veteran's service-connected lumbosacral strain is currently rated at 40 percent, which is the maximum schedular rating available for limitation of motion without ankylosis. The Board finds that his symptoms do not warrant a higher evaluation as there is no evidence of unfavorable ankylosis or intervertebral disc syndrome requiring bed rest.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims due to an inadequate VA medical examination report in December 2007, and a need for a new VA examination with findings adequate for rating purposes.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for lumbar spine, right hip, and left hip disorders. The evidence did not establish a direct link between these conditions and his military service.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities did not render him unemployable prior to September 8, 2011. The Board finds that the evidence does not show he was incapable of securing and following a substantially gainful occupation due to his service-connected conditions.

The Board found no evidence linking the Veteran's degenerative disc disease of the lumbar spine to his service, and thus denied the claim.

The Veteran's service-connected thoracolumbar spine disability and hypertension are currently rated at the maximum allowable under VA rating criteria. The TDIU claim prior to November 10, 2015, is also denied.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not meet the criteria for financial assistance in the purchase of an automobile or other conveyance and adaptive equipment, or for adaptive equipment only.

The Board has ordered additional development due to the need for an addendum medical opinion from the November 2014 VA examiner regarding the Veteran's claims of service connection for various conditions. The case is REMANDED.

The Veteran's degenerative disc disease of the lumbar spine was rated at 60 percent effective December 13, 2013.

The Board has remanded the case for further development due to incomplete records and unsuccessful efforts to obtain service department ship or deck logs.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including scheduling a VA examination and obtaining relevant medical records. The claim will be readjudicated after the completion of these actions.

The Board has remanded the case for a VA addendum opinion to address whether the Veteran's back disorder is related to service, including in-service injuries and symptoms. The claim will be readjudicated based on this new information.