Back / lumbar spine decisions — 2018

The Veteran's tinnitus claim has been granted as the evidence is at least in relative equipoise as to whether it had its onset during active service.,The issue of entitlement to service connection for a back disability has been withdrawn from appellate consideration.

The Board found that the Veteran's back and neck disabilities were not incurred in or aggravated by service, as there was no evidence of such during his active duty. The diagnoses provided are from private physicians and do not establish a direct link to service.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including obtaining private hospital records from Penrose Saint Francis Health Services and providing VCAA notice regarding the issue of whether new and material evidence has been received to reopen service connection.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's current lumbar sprain and right shoulder muscle strain are related to his service, granting service connection for these conditions.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's claims for service connection for a lower back disorder and neck disorder have been withdrawn due to his appeal being dismissed. The case is now remanded for further development.

The Veteran's appeal for service connection for bilateral shin splints has been withdrawn. The remaining issues of increased ratings for degenerative arthritis of the lumbar spine and PTSD are remanded for further development.

The Board has determined that additional development is needed to properly adjudicate the veteran's claims, including obtaining a VA examination and reviewing new evidence.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's claims for increased ratings for his herniated lumbosacral spine condition, cervical spine arthritis, and left shoulder arthritis have been denied as there is no evidence of ankylosis or incapacitating episodes meeting the criteria for higher ratings under the applicable rating schedule.

The Veteran's liver cyst, low back disability, left lower chest nodule, stomach disability and allergies were not found to be related to service.

The Veteran's claims for increased evaluations and service connection have been denied. The Board has reopened the claim of service connection for a cervical spine disorder, which is now pending.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded due to the need for a new VA examination and consideration of his TDIU claim.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's low back disorder was not incurred in or aggravated by active service and is not related to any occurrence or event therein. The claim for service connection is denied.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss, higher initial rating for PTSD and lumbosacral spine disability, as well as his claims for left knee and right knee disabilities. The appeal is not about service connection at all.

The Veteran's claim for service connection of multiple disabilities was denied, and the appellant did not establish eligibility to accrued benefits due to lack of evidence of expenses related to last sickness or burial.

The Veteran's lumbar strain with degenerative disc disease and associated radiculopathy of the lower extremities have been rated based on their orthopedic manifestations, resulting in a 20 percent evaluation for each condition.

The Veteran's degenerative joint disease of the lumbar spine with IVDS was found to warrant a rating in excess of 40 percent from July 29, 2014.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for arthritis of the lumbar spine as new and material evidence was not received. The lung disability claim was also denied, with no indication that it is related to military service or exposure to contaminated water at Camp Lejeune.

The Board has granted service connection for the Veteran's left ankle, knee, shoulder (left and right), and low back disorders as secondary to his service-connected right ankle and right knee disorders.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including degenerative disc disease of the lumbosacral spine and radiculopathies of both lower extremities, result from a common etiology. The Veteran is unable to maintain substantially gainful employment due to his service-connected disabilities.

The Veteran's service-connected posttraumatic stress disorder and low back strain alone do not prevent her from securing and maintaining substantially gainful employment.