Back / lumbar spine decisions — 2017

The Board has determined that the Veteran's migraine headaches had their onset in service and are related to his military service, granting service connection for this condition. The Veteran's claim for an increased rating for L5-S1 degenerative disc disease is remanded due to a need for additional development.

The Veteran's sleep apnea is caused or aggravated by his service-connected PTSD and its medications, warranting service connection on a secondary basis. The VA examiner concluded that the Veteran's DDD and DJD of the lumbar spine are at least as likely as not (50 percent or greater probability) proximately due to or the result of his service-connected PTSD and corresponding medications. The right knee arthritis is also considered secondary to his service-connected conditions.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded for a new VA examination to assess the severity of his service-connected lumbar disability, and for further development.

The Board has granted service connection for ischemic heart disease due to herbicide exposure. The low back disability, left knee disability, and erectile dysfunction are not addressed as the claims have been remanded.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for further examination and review of his service-connected disabilities to determine if he requires aid and attendance due solely to these conditions.

The Board has reopened the Veteran's claim of service connection for a lumbar spine disability and finds that new evidence received since the April 1979 denial supports reopening the claim. The Board also finds that service connection is warranted as the Veteran experienced back pain during his second period of active service, which continued to the present.

The Board found that the Veteran's current low back disability is a result of an in-service injury after falling from a 10-foot platform during active duty training, and granted service connection for this condition.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development due to inadequate VA examinations and opinions. The Veteran's low back disability and neck disability are being evaluated again with new evidence and a more comprehensive examination.

The Board found that the Veteran's current low back disability did not begin during his military service and is not etiologically related to active service. Therefore, the claim for service connection was denied.

The Board has remanded the case for further development and consideration of the Veteran's service connection claim for a low back disorder, as well as his TDIU claim. The case will be returned to the Board after this additional development.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not preclude him from securing and following substantially gainful employment, as he is currently employed full-time in electronic repair.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for various conditions have been denied due to lack of direct link to service. New and material evidence has not been submitted.,No effective date prior to July 1, 2011 is granted as the claim was received after that date.

The Board has ordered a remand to address the Veteran's claim for an increased rating for his chronic low back strain with sacroiliac joint dysfunction and gluteal weakness. The remand includes obtaining updated VA treatment records, scheduling a VA examination, and ensuring that the examination is in compliance with Correia v. McDonald.

The Veteran's claim for increased evaluation of his lumbar spine disability, to include separate compensable evaluations for bilateral lower extremity radiculopathy, is being remanded due to the need for additional development.

The appellant's service-connected disabilities do not render him unable to secure and follow a substantially gainful occupation.

The Veteran's back disability and PTSD are not service-connected, and the rating for PTSD prior to April 1, 2009 is denied.

The Veteran's PTSD is service-connected.,His headaches are found to be secondary to his PTSD.,His low back disorder is service-connected as a result of injury in service.,No specific issues regarding bilateral knee or left hip disorders were addressed due to the withdrawal of appeal for these claims.,Tinnitus was granted based on combat exposure and noise trauma during service.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded due to the need for additional development, including obtaining VA treatment records and scheduling a VA examination. The claim will be reviewed again after these steps are completed.

The Veteran's claims for service connection are being remanded due to the need for additional examination and medical opinions.

The Veteran's cervical spine, lumbar spine, and bilateral knee disabilities are being remanded for additional examinations to determine their etiology. The claims will be reconsidered after the new evidence is obtained.