Back / lumbar spine decisions — 2018

The Board has remanded the case due to incomplete records and a need for further development, including obtaining SSA disability records.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for left ear hearing loss due to a lack of evidence showing a current disability. The appeal is also remanded for additional examinations and rating determinations regarding his service-connected cervical spine, lumbar spine, and left shoulder disabilities.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities rendered him in need of regular aid and attendance from September 13, 2012, but no earlier. Effective from that date, he is entitled to SMC benefits based on the need for aid and attendance.

The Board denied service connection for low back disability, left foot disability, left knee disability, bilateral hearing loss, and tinnitus as there was no competent medical evidence linking these conditions to service. The Veteran's current disabilities are found to be related to post-service events rather than military service.

The Board has remanded the claims of service connection for low back and heart disabilities due to conflicting opinions from VA examiners. The Veteran's service treatment records indicate complaints of low back pain, but a negative nexus opinion was provided by the examiner.

The Board has decided to remand the case for a new VA examination and additional development of records. The Veteran's claim for a compensable disability rating for his low back disability, including S1 endplate compression fracture, is now pending.

The Board has granted service connection for the Veteran's right foot injury and remanded the issue of service connection for DDD of the lumbar spine as secondary to a right foot injury. A new VA examination is needed to determine if the DDD is directly related to active military service or aggravated by the right foot injury.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection due to insufficient medical opinions and lack of contemporaneous records. The appellant's back disorder, restless leg syndrome, sleep disorder, hypertension, and erectile dysfunction are all being reviewed with consideration given to his in-service injury and post-service risk factors.

The Veteran's service-connected mechanical low back pain is currently rated at 20 percent disabling, and the Board finds that this rating adequately reflects the severity of his condition.

The Board has granted service connection for a back disability, including low back strain with lumbar radiculopathy due to disc herniation at L5-S1, stenosis at L4-L5, and degenerative disc disease of the lumbar spine. The evidence shows that the Veteran's current back disability had its onset in service and has been continuous since service.

The Board has granted service connection for Degenerative Disc Disease (DDD) of the lumbar spine, finding that it is at least in equipoise with the claim and resolving reasonable doubt in favor of the Veteran.

The Veteran's claim for an increased rating in excess of 10 percent for his scar left leg, unstable, residuals of puncture wound is denied.,The previously denied claim for service connection for arthritis, left elbow, now claimed as an elbow condition has been reopened due to the submission of new and material evidence. However, it remains denied.,The previously denied claim for service connection for thyroid disorder, now claimed as thyroid cancer, has been reopened due to the submission of new and material evidence. It remains denied.,The previously denied claim for service connection for back disability, to include as secondary to service-connected disability, has been reopened due to the submission of new and material evidence. It remains denied.,The previously denied claim for service connection for hypertension, to include as secondary to service-connected disability, has been reopened due to the submission of new and material evidence. It remains denied.,The Veteran's claim for service connection for PTSD is denied.,The Veteran's claim for service connection for diabetes is denied.

The Veteran's claim for a low back condition was denied in October 1998, and the effective date of his current service-connected disability is February 28, 2014.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient evidence regarding the Veteran's lumbar spine disability, and requested an addendum VA medical opinion.

The Board has granted service connection for the Veteran's lumbar spine disability, finding that it is at least as likely as not related to his in-service back injury.

The Board dismissed all service connection claims except for the Veteran's TDIU claim, which was granted.

The Board has decided to remand the claim for a back disability, as there is insufficient information to make a decision on the claim. A VA examination is needed to determine if any current back disability may be associated with service.

The Veteran's increased ratings for lumbar spine disability and bilateral lower extremity radiculopathy have been denied as the evidence does not show that his conditions meet or approximate the criteria for a higher rating.

The Board denied service connection for cervical spine disorder, lumbar spine disorder, hypertension, and erectile dysfunction as the evidence did not support a link to active service.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims of service connection for various disabilities, including back disability, hypertension, heart disability, scars associated with a heart disability, headache disability, and psychiatric disability. The claims are being remanded to allow for further examination and opinion regarding the etiology of these conditions.