Back / lumbar spine decisions — 2017

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including obtaining medical records from Dr. R.A.K. and providing an addendum opinion regarding the Veteran's cervical spine disability.

The Veteran is entitled to a TDIU from October 14, 1997 through September 25, 2003, including on an extra-schedular basis prior to July 14, 2003.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD and depression, anal fistulas, gall bladder disease, cirrhosis of the liver, and hepatitis C were not incurred in or caused by active service. The back disability was also denied.

The Board finds that the Veteran's current low back disability, including degenerative arthritis and lumbar strain, is not related to his active military service. The claim for service connection is denied.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for traumatic brain injury, thoracic spine degenerative disc disease, cervical spine degenerative disc disease, peripheral neuropathy of the right upper extremity, peripheral neuropathy of the left upper extremity, and mild ectasia of the ascending aorta. The appeals were based on direct service connection.

The Veteran's tinnitus claim is dismissed. The Board finds that the Veteran has a current hearing loss disability related to service, and his lumbar spine disorder is also related to service. No rating assigned as no specific issue was resolved.

The Veteran seeks service connection for a low back disability, which includes spondylolisthesis and lumbar spondylosis with multilevel degenerative disc disease. The Board has determined that additional development is needed to determine the nature and etiology of these conditions.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's low back disability is service-connected as it began during his active duty service and there are no intervening injuries.

The Board has remanded the case for further development, including obtaining Social Security records and readjudicating the claims.

The Board has granted service connection for a lumbar spine disability, finding that the Veteran's current condition is related to his in-service complaints of back pain. The remaining issues are remanded for further development.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded due to the need for additional examination and development of his claims, including a new VA spine examination.

The Veteran's service-connected conditions do not meet the schedular criteria for TDIU, and her low back strain with limitation of motion does not present an exceptional disability picture that the available schedular evaluations are inadequate.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded due to the need for additional medical records and examinations, as well as a readjudication of his increased rating claims (lumbosacral strain) and TDIU claim.

The Veteran's appeal for service connection for depression was withdrawn. The Board has granted service connection for left eye floaters, finding that the condition is as likely as not related to his military service.

The Veteran's appeal for increased disability ratings for various service-connected disabilities has been withdrawn. The Veteran is now granted a total disability rating due to individual unemployability (TDIU) from June 29, 2010 to February 26, 2013.

The Board has reopened the claim of service connection for a back condition and remanded it for further development.

The Veteran has withdrawn his appeals regarding the reduction of his disability rating for low back disability and his claim for TDIU.

The Board found that the Veteran's right hand and back disabilities are not related to service, as there is no evidence of a chronic condition during or within one year after service. The VA examiner concluded that the current conditions are less likely caused by in-service injuries.

The Veteran's claim for a TDIU due to service-connected disability, on an extra-schedular basis, is granted. The claim for an initial, extra-schedular rating in excess of 40 percent for lumbar disc disease remains pending.

The Veteran's back disability is not related to his military service and was not caused by or aggravated by his service connected pes planus. The Board finds that the Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including dysthymia and anxiety disorder, bilateral pes planus, tension headaches, degenerative joint disease of the right knee, and degenerative joint disease of the left knee, preclude him from securing or following a substantially gainful occupation.,The Veteran has multiple service-connected disabilities that are rated at 100% combined, meeting the criteria for TDIU.