Back / lumbar spine decisions — 2018

The Board has remanded the case for a new examination to determine if the Veteran's low back disability is related to his service-connected foot disabilities, specifically pes planus and metatarsalgia. The examiner should consider both diagnoses of the Veteran's foot disabilities.

The VA denied the Veteran's claim of service connection for a low back disability, finding no evidence of a chronic condition in service and insufficient medical nexus to link current DDD to service.

The Veteran's service-connected low back disability is rated at 40 percent, the maximum rating available for limitation of motion of the thoracolumbar spine.

The Veteran's appeals have been withdrawn prior to the Board issuing a decision.

The Veteran's claims for diabetes mellitus, elevated cholesterol levels, memory loss, a back disability, and bilateral hearing loss have not been addressed in the decision.,The Veteran has not been provided with an examination to address his claimed back disability or bilateral hearing loss.

The Board has remanded the case due to outstanding VA and private medical records not being obtained. The Veteran is advised to provide information about any relevant treatment received from outside VA.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's bilateral sensorineural hearing loss is related to his military service and granted service connection for this condition. However, the Board found insufficient evidence linking the Veteran's degenerative arthritis lumbar spine to his active duty service.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's low back condition is presumed to have been incurred in service due to arthritis of the sacroiliac joints, which manifested within one year of separation from service. The bilateral ankle disability is found to be a current compensable disability and presumed to have occurred during service.

The Veteran's claims for hypertension, bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, and obstructive sleep apnea are being remanded due to the need for additional examinations.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral pes planus, bilateral plantar fasciitis, and degenerative joint disease of the lumbar spine. The decision is based on a finding that new evidence did not reopen the claim for bilateral pes planus and that there was no aggravation of pre-existing conditions during service.

The Board has reopened the claim of service connection for a back disability and found that new and material evidence has been submitted. The Veteran's current back disability is related to his in-service injury, but the examiner determined that scoliosis did not preexist service.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's claims for service connection for a back disability, left shoulder disability, and carpal tunnel syndrome in the left wrist are not supported by evidence showing a direct relationship to service. The preponderance of the evidence does not support these claims.

The Board has granted service connection for a low back disability, diagnosed as chronic mechanical low back syndrome. The Veteran's current condition is found to be related to her in-service fall and injury.,Service connection was denied for the claimed TMJ disability due to lack of evidence of continuity of symptomatology since service.

The Board has decided to remand the case for further development, including scheduling a VA examination and obtaining additional medical records. The Veteran's claim of service connection for low back pain will be reconsidered based on the new evidence.

The Board denied service connection for lumbosacral strain, left ankle/foot strain, and bilateral pes planus. Service connection was granted for low back disability (DDD with stenosis and dextroscoliosis), numbness in the left leg and foot, residuals of injury to the right leg, including hip, ankle, and foot, and residuals of injury to the left wrist, hand, and fingers.

The Veteran's appeal has been withdrawn, and the case is dismissed.

The Veteran's service-connected chronic lumbosacral strain was found to be noncompensably disabling prior to December 3, 2015 and rated as 10 percent disabling since that date. The Board determined the current level of disability does not warrant a higher rating.

The Veteran's claim for an initial separate compensable rating for anemia was denied as his hemoglobin levels never reached 10gm/100mL or less during the appeal period. The claim for service connection for a low back disability is pending and will be addressed in the REMAND portion of the decision.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for residuals of a breast reduction, characterized by bilateral intramammary, circumareolar and vertical inferior scars was reopened due to the submission of new evidence. The Board finds that she currently experiences such scars as a result of her in-service surgery.,The Veteran's back disability is rated at 20 percent since November 1, 2006. The July 2010 rating decision implementing the reduction from 20 percent to zero percent was not considered a reduction in overall compensation.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's chronic neck sprain is due to an in-service injury and grants service connection for a neck disability.