Back / lumbar spine decisions — 2018

The Board has reopened the previously denied claim for service connection of a low back disability and granted service connection. The eye disability claim is remanded due to insufficient evidence.,Service connection was established for lumbosacral strain, but the Veteran's eye disability remains under review.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development due to a lack of service treatment records from Katterbach, Germany, where the Veteran claims he received treatment for back pain in the summer of 1981.

The Veteran's claim for an initial disability rating in excess of 10 percent for cervical spine degenerative disc disease and joint disease is being remanded due to the need for a new VA examination to assess the severity of his condition, including during flare-ups.

The Board denied service connection for the Veteran's left knee disability, low back disability, bilateral radiculopathy of the lower extremities, and acquired psychiatric disorder as they were not incurred or aggravated during active military service.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for a right ankle condition and an initial compensable evaluation for bilateral pes planus with calcaneal spurs. The claim of entitlement to an increased evaluation for degenerative disc disease L1-2, L2-3 with chronic low back pain and mild scoliosis was also denied.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's current lumbar spine disorder is directly related to his active duty service and grants service connection for this condition.

The Veteran's spinal stenosis with degenerative disc disease is currently rated at 50 percent, effective March 19, 2016. The claim for an increased rating prior to that date remains pending.

The Board denied service connection for hearing loss disability and tinnitus, but granted service connection for residuals of a laceration to the right fifth finger. The low back issue is not established.

The Board has ordered additional development to determine the Veteran's duty status in June 1981 and to obtain his service treatment records. The case is now remanded for further action.

The Board has reopened the claim of service connection for a back disability and found that it meets the criteria for a rating in excess of 70 percent for PTSD. The Veteran's erectile dysfunction appeal was withdrawn prior to final decision.

The Veteran's claim for various equipment purchases/home modifications under the vocational rehabilitation independent living plan is being remanded due to the need for additional development, including a VA examination and updated independent living assessment.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including new VA examinations to assess the severity of his low back disability and Wolff-Parkinson White syndrome.

The Board found that the Veteran's current back disorder, including lumbar spondylosis (L2. L3), was not incurred in or caused by his military service and therefore denied his claim for service connection.

The Board found that the Veteran's back disability, bilateral hearing loss, and tinnitus are not related to service or any in-service injury. The preponderance of evidence does not support a finding of continuity of symptomatology since service.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's low back disability is not related to her service or a service-connected condition, and thus denied her claim for service connection.

The Veteran's arthritis of the sacro-iliac joints with lumbar strain and spondylolisthesis is currently rated at 10 percent, which reflects the limitation in range of motion. The evidence does not show any additional functional loss or incapacitating episodes that would warrant a higher rating.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for degenerative arthritis of the right knee, left knee, and lumbar spine.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded due to the need for clarification from Dr. Timmons regarding his January 2012 examination findings, and for additional development concerning the impact of his service-connected disabilities on his employability.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's current low back disability is not related to his service and therefore denied his claim for service connection.

The Veteran's right knee disability is currently rated at 10 percent, but the evidence does not support a higher rating due to functional loss and normal range of motion.,Service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder has been granted as there is an approximate balance of negative and positive evidence regarding its relationship to service. Service connection for a back disability has also been granted based on an approximate balance of negative and positive evidence.,The Veteran's claim for residuals of a head injury was not addressed in the decision, but it is presumed that service connection was granted as well due to the nature of the other claims.