Back / lumbar spine decisions — 2018

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for neck and back disabilities, finding no causal relationship between these conditions and his military service.

The Board has remanded the initial evaluation claim for DDD of the lumbar spine due to insufficient information regarding functional loss during flare-ups and the presence or absence of intervertebral disc syndrome (IVDS).

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for right shoulder, cervical spine, and low back disabilities. The evidence does not support a finding that these conditions began during active service or are otherwise related to an in-service injury or disease.

The Board has reopened the Veteran's claims of service connection for left knee and left foot disabilities, as well as his lumbar spine, bilateral hip, bilateral knee, left leg, and bilateral ankle disabilities. The claims are remanded to obtain updated VA treatment records and conduct new VA examinations to determine the nature and etiology of these conditions.

The Board has reopened the claim of service connection for low back disorder. The issues of service connection for cervical spine condition, bilateral foot condition, right shoulder condition, and acquired psychiatric disorder are dismissed as the Veteran withdrew his appeal.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to insufficient evidence regarding whether the Veteran's back disability is related to service. The VA will obtain additional records and schedule a VA examination for an opinion on this issue.

The Veteran's appeal for service connection for a deviated septum, claimed as a disability of the nose, is dismissed. The Board has remanded cases involving low back disability, bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus, hypertension, acquired psychiatric disability (claimed as PTSD), and initial compensable evaluation for bilateral tinea pedis/tinea unguium.

The Veteran's lumbar spine disability and associated right-lower extremity and left-lower extremity radiculopathy have been granted initial evaluations of 20 percent each, effective from May 4, 2010.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for chronic prostatitis, cervical myositis, lumbar myositis, and a psychiatric disability other than PTSD. The AOJ must obtain VA treatment records from 1997 and any private treatment records related to his prostate condition in 1997. They are also required to provide the Veteran with release forms for these records if they have not already been obtained.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection due to procedural errors and the need for additional development, including obtaining medical opinions regarding his character of discharge during his second period of service.

The Board denied an initial disability rating in excess of 40 percent for degenerative disc disease, L4-L5 and L5-S1, finding that the evidence did not show unfavorable ankylosis of the entire thoracolumbar spine or unfavorable ankylosis of the entire spine.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims of service connection for lumbar spine and hip disorders, finding that there is no evidence to support a direct relationship between these conditions and his service-connected bilateral pes planus and ankle disabilities.

The Board has decided to remand the Veteran's claims for service connection due to incomplete records and the need for additional examinations.

The Board has denied service connection for a back disorder and remanded the issue of service connection for PTSD.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings and a TDIU are being remanded due to the need for additional medical examinations.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient evidence regarding the Veteran's low back disability, including potential continuity of symptoms since service.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for PTSD and back disability, as well as his TDIU claim, are being remanded due to missing records. The VA will conduct a new search for all relevant documents and provide the Veteran with an opportunity to submit any missing records. A new VA examination is also required for both PTSD and back disability.

The Board has remanded several issues related to service connection for various disabilities due to lack of a VA examination and insufficient evidence.

The Veteran's lumbar spine disorder is not service connected, and his PTSD is rated at 70%.,PTSD benefits are granted with conditions but an earlier effective date for the grant of service connection is denied.

The Board has granted service connection for a back condition, reactive airway disease with bronchitis, and an acquired psychiatric disability (adjustment disorder with depressed mood and anxiety) incurred during the Veteran's period of active duty service.