Back / lumbar spine decisions — 2018

The Veteran's appeal is remanded for additional development, including a VA examination and adjudication of his TDIU claim.

The Veteran's claims for various conditions were denied as they did not meet the criteria for presumptive service connection due to Persian Gulf War exposure or other qualifying chronic disability.

The Board granted service connection for a cervical spine disability and headaches, finding that the Veteran's assertions of in-service neck injuries were credible and consistent with the circumstances of his service. The Board also found that there was at least relative equipoise evidence supporting the claim for service connection for headaches as secondary to the now service-connected cervical spine disability. Service connection for a low back disability was denied due to lack of continuity of symptomatology since service.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for a low back condition, a scalp condition, and a respiratory condition. The evidence does not support a finding that any of these conditions are related to active service.

The Veteran's service-connected back disability did not prevent him from securing and following substantially gainful employment prior to May 1, 2012.

The Board has granted service connection for low back disorder, left knee disorder, and right knee disorder. The evidence is in equipoise as to whether these conditions are related to the Veteran's military service.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for various conditions, including bilateral shoulder disability, arm and wrist disability, neck disability, back disability, leg disability (including varicose veins and blood clots), lung disability, acquired psychiatric disorder (PTSD, anxiety, memory loss, sleep disorder), and hip disability. The Board found the evidence did not support a link between these conditions and service.

The Board denied service connection for a right shoulder disability on the basis that new and material evidence had not been presented to support the claim, as the Veteran's assertions of secondary service connection were not supported by medical evidence.

The Veteran is unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation as a result of his service-connected disabilities prior to October 14, 2015.

The Veteran's appeals for higher ratings for his right knee disability, service connection for various conditions, and entitlement to TDIU were denied. The Board found that the evidence did not meet the criteria for a higher rating or service connection in all cases.

The Board has remanded the case for a new VA examination and nexus opinion to address the Veteran's testimony of low back symptoms since service.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's back disability is not service-connected as secondary to his service-connected stress fracture right tibia. The hip disability was also found not to be service-connected due to lack of evidence showing it was aggravated by his service-connected condition.

The Board has remanded the appeal due to incomplete or unclear opinions from previous examiners and requests for additional evidence.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining updated VA treatment records and a new VA examination to assess the severity of his lumbar spine disability.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's left shoulder disability did not have its onset in service and is not otherwise the result of a disease or injury incurred in service. The claim for service connection for a low back disability was previously remanded, but no additional development has been completed related to this issue.

The Board found that the Veteran's low back disorder was not incurred or aggravated by service, and specifically during his third period of active duty from March 2008 to March 2009. The Board concluded that the preexisting condition worsened due to natural progression.

The Board finds that the Veteran's degenerative disc syndrome and arthritis of lumbar spine originated in service, with symptoms dating back to his military service. The evidence supports a finding that these conditions are related to service.

The Veteran's DDD of the lumbar spine is currently rated at 40 percent, effective July 29, 2017. The rating reflects severe limitation of motion without unfavorable ankylosis or episodes requiring bed rest.

The Veteran's lumbar spine disability is not service-connected, and there is no evidence to support a claim for compensation under 38 U.S.C. § 1151 due to the December 2000 surgery.

The Board found that the Veteran's insomnia is not related to his military service.,There is no evidence linking any of the other claimed disabilities (arthritis, cervical spine disorder, lumbar spine disorder, bilateral eye disorder, coronary disorder, and gastrointestinal disorder) to his military service.