Back / lumbar spine decisions — 2018

The Board has determined that the Veteran's diabetes mellitus, lumbar spine disorder, and asbestosis/COPD are service-connected based on direct evidence of a link to his military service.

The Board has denied service connection for right ear hearing loss and the lumbar spine condition. The Veteran's right ear hearing loss was not found to meet VA criteria for a disability, while his lumbar spine condition is denied as there is no evidence of in-service injury or aggravation.

The Board has determined that additional development is necessary and the case is being remanded to obtain VA treatment records, Social Security Administration records, and Reserve service records.

The Board has remanded the case for further development and readjudication of the issues listed, including consideration of new evidence. The Veteran is also advised to submit a timely substantive appeal if he wishes to perfect his appeal on any of these issues.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for heart disorder, residuals of a stroke, skin disorder, bladder cancer, and back disorder due to lack of evidence linking these conditions to his military service.

The Board has determined that new and material evidence has been received to reopen the Veteran's claim of service connection for a low back disability. The Veteran reported having had back pain since his military service, which is supported by lay statements from himself and his wife.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining SSA records and arranging for an orthopedic examination to assess the severity of his service-connected right knee disability.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for a thoracolumbar spine disability and an increased rating for bilateral pes planus/plantar fasciitis. The issue of cervical spine disability is remanded due to insufficient evidence.,Further examination and review of records are needed to clarify the relationship between the Veteran's in-service degenerative changes and his current cervical spine condition.

The Veteran's claim for a higher rating for his lumbar spine disability is being remanded due to the need for additional development, including an examination.

The Board has determined that additional development is necessary to fully and correctly adjudicate the claims on appeal, including obtaining National Guard service records, VA treatment records from October 2015 onward, and private medical treatment records. The case will be remanded for these actions.

The Board finds that the Veteran's current low back condition is not related to his military service, including a parachute jump in 1999 or 2000. The preponderance of evidence does not support the claim for service connection.

The Board found that the Veteran's current low back disability and left foot hammer toe second toe status post repair did not have its onset in active service or within one year thereafter, and are not otherwise etiologically related to active service or service-connected disabilities.

The Veteran's appeal is currently pending and requires additional development, including new VA examinations for his right shoulder and hip disabilities, as well as etiology opinions regarding a lumbar spine disability. The claims are being remanded to the AOJ.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining updated medical records and scheduling examinations to assess the severity of his service-connected disabilities.

The Veteran's appeal has been dismissed as he withdrew his claims for increased ratings for degenerative disc disease of the lumbar spine prior to February 20, 2015, and from that date.

The Board has granted service connection for a back disability and reopened the claim of service connection for major depressive disorder.,Service connection is also granted for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including major depressive disorder and anxiety disorders, as secondary to the Veteran's back disability.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for a sleep disorder, low back disability, and hypertension. The evidence did not meet the criteria for reopening these previously denied claims.

The Veteran has been granted service connection for degenerative joint disease of the thoracolumbar spine, but his cervical spine disability and arthritis have not met the criteria for service connection.,Service connection was denied as there is no evidence of a chronic condition in service or within one year after separation from service.

The Veteran's service connection claims for residuals of seminoma, anxiety disorder, bilateral knee disabilities, bilateral shoulder disabilities, and low back disability have all been denied. The evidence does not support a finding that these conditions are related to the Veteran's active military service or herbicide agent exposure.

The Veteran's right shoulder disability is rated at 20 percent, and his other service-connected conditions do not meet the criteria for a TDIU. The Board finds that he does not have sufficient combined ratings to qualify for a TDIU based on his service-connected disabilities.