Back / lumbar spine decisions — 2017

The Veteran's appeal has been withdrawn due to her request for withdrawal.

The Board has determined that additional development is needed for the Veteran's claims, including obtaining medical opinions and records. The case will be remanded to the AOJ for further action.

The Veteran does not have a low back disability, cervical spine disability, left arm or left hand disability (including numbness), or headaches that were caused by his service. The Board finds the preponderance of evidence against these claims.

The Veteran's kidney disability, including renal insufficiency, was incurred during active duty service and continues to persist. The Veteran also has a service-connected degenerative disc disease of the lumbar spine with accompanying radiculopathy of the right lower extremity that is rated appropriately.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional examinations to determine the nature and likely cause of his sleep apnea, back condition, left knee condition, and bilateral plantar fasciitis. The VA will also need to clarify if there are any other foot disorders related to his service-connected conditions.

The Veteran withdrew his appeals of the claims for entitlement to service connection for a right knee disability, a left knee disability, a lower back disability, a sleep disorder, hypertension, left lower extremity peripheral neuropathy, right lower extremity peripheral neuropathy, left upper extremity peripheral neuropathy, right upper extremity peripheral neuropathy, acid reflux disease, a left ankle disability, a right ankle disability, PTSD, and an acquired psychiatric disorder other than PTSD.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded for additional development, including obtaining medical examinations and opinions regarding his service-connected conditions and entitlement to TDIU.

The Board has denied service connection for a low back disability and nerve pain in both legs, finding that the evidence does not support a relationship between these conditions and active service.,Service connection was denied as there is no credible evidence of chronic symptoms since active service.

The Veteran is entitled to specially adapted housing due to service-connected disabilities including a herniated lumbar disc at L5-S1 and erectile dysfunction, which result in loss of use of one lower extremity and functional impairment affecting balance or propulsion.

The Board has remanded the case due to deficiencies in a previous medical opinion regarding the etiology of the Veteran's low back disability, specifically whether it is related to service or caused by her service-connected hip and knee disabilities.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's arthritis of the lumbar spine was present during active duty service and grants service connection for this condition.

The Board found no evidence of a continuity of symptoms from service to the present for sleep apnea, asthma, allergies, and back disability. The VA examiner opined that these conditions are not related to service.,The Veteran's current back disability is more likely due to an age-related process accelerated by his overweight status.

The Veteran's low back disability was rated at 20 percent effective October 31, 2015 for thoracolumbar spine DJD with spinal stenosis. The claim is granted.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including obtaining medical records from the Nevada Department of Corrections and a VA examination. The Veteran's claim remains in a pending status.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for further development, including obtaining additional medical records and providing new VA examinations to assess the current severity of his service-connected right shoulder arthritis, cervical spine DDD with spasms, and lumbosacral spine DDD.

The Veteran's DJD and DDD of the lumbosacral spine was granted a 40% rating from November 25, 2007 to March 7, 2012. The appeal for higher ratings is denied.

The Veteran's initial rating for her orthopedic manifestations of low back disability was granted at 20 percent, effective February 2, 2009. The neurologic manifestations were rated separately and also at 10 percent, effective June 7, 2010.

The Board found that the Veteran's upper back disorder, other than costovertebral syndrome, was not shown to be related to service and denied his claim for service connection.

The Board has remanded the case due to incomplete records and the need for additional development, including obtaining service treatment records and any opinions from Dr. D.O. or Dr. Iung.

The Board has remanded the case for an addendum opinion addressing whether the Veteran's service-connected bilateral knee disabilities aggravated his claimed hypertension, back disorder, and bilateral hip disorders.