Back / lumbar spine decisions — 2017

The Board has determined that the Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not render him incapable of securing or following a substantially gainful occupation.

The VA examiner found no evidence of a chronic condition related to service and concluded that the Veteran's degenerative joint disease of the lumbar spine is less likely as not caused by or a result of treatment for the back while on active duty.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including obtaining private treatment records and VA treatment records. The Veteran's low back disability will be examined to determine its etiology.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's low back and neck disabilities are not related to his military service.,The Veteran's trigeminal neuralgia is also not linked to his military service.

The Board found that the Veteran's low back and upper back conditions were not incurred or aggravated during service, and thus denied these claims. The bilateral shoulder condition was also denied as there is no current diagnosis.

The Board has remanded the case for further development, including scheduling a videoconference hearing at the earliest available opportunity. The Veteran's request to have the hearing held at the VA Medical Center in Roseburg, Oregon is noted.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for a low back disorder was denied as he failed to report for a necessary VA examination, and thus the appeal lacks legal merit.

The Veteran's lumbar degenerative disc disease and right lower extremity radiculopathy are found to be aggravated by his service-connected left and right knee chondromalacia patellae. His hypertension is currently rated at 10% since June 13, 2008.

The Veteran's claim for a higher rating for headaches has been granted, with the highest available rating of 50 percent effective from July 2006. The remaining claims are being remanded for additional development.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's cervical spine disability is etiologically related to service, granting her claim for service connection.

The Veteran's preexisting bilateral pes planus was not aggravated by active service, and the Board denied his claim for service connection.

The Board has remanded the case due to new evidence indicating worsening of the Veteran's disabilities, and a new examination is required before further rating decisions can be made.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not render him unable to secure or follow substantially gainful employment.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not preclude him from obtaining or maintaining substantially gainful employment.

The Veteran's claim for an increased rating higher than 20 percent for degenerative disc disease and degenerative joint disease of the lumbar spine is being remanded due to the need for additional examination and development.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's current low back disability is related to his service, and thus grants service connection for a low back disability.

The Board has decided to remand the case for additional development, including obtaining medical records and arranging a VA examination.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's degenerative joint disease of the lumbar spine is related to service, while his bilateral knee disorder is not. The decision is mixed as it grants one claim and denies another.

The Veteran's current bilateral hearing loss disability had onset during his active service, and the Board finds credible and competent the Veteran's account of noise exposure in service. Service connection for bilateral hearing loss is granted.

The Board has determined that a VA examination is needed to address the nature and etiology of the Veteran's lower back disability, as well as whether it is related to service. The appeal will be remanded for this purpose.