Back / lumbar spine decisions — 2017

The Veteran's appeal has been withdrawn by his authorized representative, thus the appeal is dismissed.

The Board found that the Veteran's current low back strain is not related to his active service, and denied service connection for stage II hypothermia. The Veteran's eye disability was also denied as there was no evidence of a superimposed disease or injury during service.,Service connection was denied for all issues due to lack of competent medical evidence linking the current conditions to active service.

The Board has granted a 20 percent rating for the Veteran's scars of her right knee, resolving all reasonable doubt in her favor. The remaining issues regarding her lumbar spine and right knee conditions are remanded for further examination.

The case is being remanded for additional development, including a new VA examination to assess the severity of the Veteran's lumbar spine disability and an examination to determine if there are any additional disabilities resulting from multiple surgeries on his right hand and wrist. The examinations must comply with the mandates in Correia v. McDonald (2016).

The Veteran's claim for service connection for PTSD was withdrawn prior to the Board making a decision. The Veteran's bilateral pes planus, which existed before active service, was found to be aggravated by his military service.

The Board has reopened the claim for service connection for a lumbar spine disability and granted service connection based on continuity of symptoms since service.,Service connection was also granted for a headache disorder, with the onset during active service.

The Veteran's appeal involves a claim for increased ratings for his service-connected lumbosacral strain with degenerative joint and disc disease of the lumbosacral spine, L2-3, L3-4, L4-5, and L5-S1, and mild degenerative sacroiliac joints. The appeal is remanded to obtain additional medical examinations and opinions regarding his associated neurological symptoms.

The Board denied the Veteran's request to reopen his claim for service connection of a low back disability, finding that no new and material evidence had been received since the March 2008 rating decision.

The Veteran is seeking service connection for various conditions including COPD, hypertension, sickle cell anemia, and a psychiatric disorder. The appeal includes issues related to these conditions.,The Veteran seeks service connection for hypertension. She contends that her condition began during active duty due to stress from basic training.,The Veteran claims service connection for sickle cell anemia. She asserts that the condition was present at birth but worsened by military service, particularly smoking and marching with a thumb extended during basic training.,The Veteran seeks service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including depression, dyslexia (claimed as inaptitude), and schizoid disorder. She contends these conditions are related to her sickle cell trait and stress from active duty.,The Veteran claims service connection for residuals of stroke, which she attributes to her sickle cell trait and hypertension.,She seeks service connection for a left knee disability, alleging injury during basic training while using a floor buffer. She also contends that marching with a thumb extended caused damage to her right thumb.,She requests service connection for a lumbar spine disability, attributing it to injuries sustained in service while using a floor cleaner and marching with a thumb extended.,The Veteran seeks service connection for a right thumb condition, alleging injury during basic training.

The Veteran's service connection claims for a lumbar spine disorder and a psychiatric disorder (to include PTSD) are granted. The claim for bilateral hearing loss is pending.

The Veteran's previous occupation as a chiropractor is unsuitable due to his service-connected knee, back, and hip disabilities. The Board finds that additional vocational rehabilitation training under Chapter 31 of Title 38 is warranted.

The Veteran is seeking service connection for low back pain that he believes is caused by his service-connected gunshot wound to the chest. The VA examiner found no direct link between the gunshot wound and the current back condition, but a private chiropractor opined that the gunshot wound may have contributed to the degenerative changes in the spine.

The Board has found the record incomplete and has ordered additional efforts to obtain VA treatment records from 1986-1987 and private medical records. The appeal is REMANDED for these actions.

The Veteran's service connection claims for headaches, a back disability, and sleep apnea have all been granted.

The Board has determined that new and material evidence has been presented to reopen the Veteran's claim for service connection of a low back disability. The case is being remanded for further development.

The Veteran seeks service connection for back and neck disabilities, but the Board has determined that further development is needed to determine if these conditions are related to his military service.

The Veteran's left knee disability, resulting from a motorcycle accident in service and eventually requiring total knee replacement surgery, is found to be related to his active duty service. The Board grants service connection for this condition.

The Board has determined that service connection for tinnitus is warranted, and the Veteran's lumbar spine disability is granted an initial evaluation in excess of 10 percent.

The Veteran's appeals for service connection on the issues of high cholesterol, hypertension, sleep apnea, plantar fasciitis of the left foot, right knee disability, low back disability, bilateral shoulder disability, and bilateral elbow disability have been dismissed due to withdrawal by the Veteran at his hearing. The appeal for service connection on the issue of right hip disability is remanded.

The Veteran has withdrawn his appeals regarding the issues of whether new and material evidence has been received to reopen service connection for a right knee disability, service connection for a low back disability, a left hip disability, a right hip disability, a left foot disability, a right foot disability, bladder cancer, and PTSD.