Back / lumbar spine decisions — 2018

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities rendered him unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation, and the Board granted his TDIU claim.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection due to inadequate opinions in previous VA examinations. The claims will be reviewed with new medical opinions based on full review of the record and supported by stated rationale.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development to determine if the Veteran's chronic fatigue is related to her military service, including service in Southwest Asia. The appeal will be reconsidered after this development.

The Board denied service connection for a back disability and granted a 10 percent rating for hallux valgus of the right foot. The claim for hypertension was remanded due to insufficient evidence.

The Board has denied reopening the claim for service connection for Tietze's syndrome due to lack of new and material evidence. The Veteran's other claims have been remanded for further development.

The Board has remanded the case due to a need for a medical opinion regarding whether the Veteran's lumbar spine disorder is related to service.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not render him unable to secure or maintain a substantially gainful occupation.

The Veteran requested to withdraw his appeals for low back disorder and hearing loss, leading to their dismissal.

The Board denied service connection for a lumbar spine disorder, finding that the Veteran's back pain was present prior to military service and did not worsen during service. The current DDD of the lumbar spine is considered a normal part of aging.

The Veteran's claims for increased rating of diabetes mellitus and service connection for a back disability are being remanded due to the need for additional development, including VA examinations.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for a back disability is granted with an effective date of March 16, 2012. A rating of 20 percent is assigned for the entire appeal period.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection of GERD, hypothyroidism, erectile dysfunction, and low back disability. The Board also denied increased ratings for diabetes mellitus and diabetic peripheral neuropathy of the lower extremities. The Board found that there was no evidence to support a higher rating for diabetes mellitus or an aggravation claim for GERD.

The Veteran's claims for service connection and increased rating have been remanded due to the need for further development. The right hip disability claim is being remanded, as well as the increased rating for lumbar spine disability and a compensable rating for tinea corporis.

The Board denied service connection for various conditions, including epicondylitis of the left elbow, right shoulder tendonitis, degenerative disc disease of the lumbar spine, a left Achilles tendon rupture, mild fibrosis of the lung, residuals of cholecystectomy (gall bladder removal), Crohn's disease (irritable bowel syndrome), residuals of an emergency internal hemorrhoidectomy, colon cancer with polyp, and residuals of bile duct surgery. The Board found no evidence to support service connection for these conditions.,The Veteran claimed his conditions were due to radiation exposure during service, but the VA did not find any credible evidence supporting this claim.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to inadequate examination and treatment records, requiring a new evaluation of the Veteran's lumbar spine disability.

The appeal challenging the withholding of VA compensation due to concurrent receipt of drill pay and service connection for various conditions is denied.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims of service connection for various disabilities, including eye and vision issues, hearing loss, knee problems, back pain, leg numbness/weakness, psychiatric conditions, and heart disability. The appeals are pending further development.

Service connection for a lumbar spine disorder, bilateral hearing loss, and tinnitus is denied.,The Veteran's claims for service connection for traumatic brain issue (TBI), an acquired psychiatric disorder including PTSD and depression are not addressed as they were previously denied in June 2013.

The Board has remanded several issues related to service connection, including low back disorders and cold injury residuals. The Veteran's claims for an acquired psychiatric disorder (including PTSD) are also remanded due to the need for a VA examination.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including major depressive disorder and lumbar intervertebral disc syndrome, have rendered him unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation.