Back / lumbar spine decisions — 2018

The Board has found that the Veteran's lumbar and cervical strains are etiologically related to her active service, granting her claims for service connection.

The Veteran's claims for service connection are being remanded due to the need for a VA examination and medical opinion regarding her right shoulder rotator cuff condition, low back condition, right knee condition, and fibromyalgia.

From November 22, 2011 to September 22, 2014, the Veteran's low back disability was evaluated at a 10 percent rating. From September 23, 2014, it has been rated at 20 percent.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's low back disability is not due to any incident of his active duty service and therefore, denied the claim for service connection.

The Board has granted the Veteran's claim for TDIU, finding that his service-connected disabilities limit him to sedentary employment. The earlier effective date claim for asthma was withdrawn by the Veteran.

The Veteran's claims for service connection have been remanded due to the need for additional development and examination.

The Board has granted service connection for the Veteran's right and left knee disabilities, as well as his back disability. The claims were reopened based on new evidence received since the last final denial.

The Board has found that the Veteran's claim should be remanded for further development, including a VA examination to determine the etiology of his back disability and whether it is related to service.

The Veteran is unable to obtain and maintain substantially gainful employment due to his service-connected disabilities, which are rated as a combined rating of at least 70 percent.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for a VA examination to determine the nature and etiology of his bilateral ankle condition, left knee condition, and back condition.

The Board has determined that additional development is needed to address the Veteran's claims for service connection for cervical and lumbar spine disabilities. This includes obtaining medical records, scheduling a VA examination, and clarifying certain notations in previous examinations.

The Board finds that the evidence is in equipoise as to whether the Veteran's low back strain with degenerative disc disease of the lumbar spine was incurred during service, and grants service connection for this condition.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded to obtain additional medical records and conduct further evaluations. The claims for increased ratings and service connection will be reconsidered after the development.

The Board has granted service connection for lumbar spine degenerative disc disease (DDD), bilateral hip degenerative joint disease (DJD), and a bilateral leg condition as secondary to the Veteran's service-connected bilateral foot disability.

The Veteran's cervical and lumbar spine disabilities have been granted increased ratings, with the highest possible evaluation for his cervical spine disability. The GERD claim was withdrawn by the Veteran.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for various conditions, including PTSD, bilateral hearing loss, GERD, hematuria, fibromyalgia, ulcer, cervical spine disability, lumbar spine disability, left shoulder disability, nerve damage to the left hand, arms, and feet, and right hand disability have been denied due to lack of credible supporting evidence for the claimed in-service stressors and no link between current conditions and service.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not meet the criteria for additional vocational rehabilitation services as she has been employed in a stable position since May 2008 and does not have an employment handicap.

The Board found that the Veteran's low back condition was not shown during active service and is not related to active service. Therefore, the claim for service connection for a low back condition has been denied.

The Board found no evidence of a low back disability during service or within one year after separation, and the Veteran's contemporaneous denials of symptoms at his separation examination contradict any assertions of continuity of symptomatology. The VA examiner opined that it was less likely than not that the current low back disability is related to service.

The Veteran's hip and back disabilities are being remanded for additional development as the current VA examination did not adequately address the relationship between service, including parachute jumps, and his current conditions.