Back / lumbar spine Board decisions

The Board denied service connection for a back condition (claimed as a gunshot wound to the lower back), bilateral foot condition, bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, and PTSD, to include depression, anxiety, and any mental condition, all of which were pending at the time of the Veteran's death. The Board found no nexus between these conditions and service.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for low back, left knee, and right knee disorders due to incomplete records from the appellant's Army Reserve service.

The Board has decided that a VA examination is needed to determine the etiology of the Veteran's right leg nerve disorder, which may be related to his service-connected degenerative arthritis of the lumbar spine.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims due to incomplete records and insufficient opinions regarding her lumbar spine, knee, skin condition, left sided sciatica, and right sided sciatica disabilities. The RO is instructed to obtain missing VA treatment records and request any service medical records from the Veteran. A new examination will be scheduled for the Veteran to determine the nature and etiology of these conditions.

The Board has remanded the cases due to inextricably intertwined issues and pending adjudication of another appeal. The Social Security Administration records need to be obtained for both claims.

The Veteran's PTSD is currently rated at 30 percent, and the Board finds that this rating adequately reflects his disability.,For TDIU, the Veteran does not meet the schedular criteria as he has more than one service-connected disability but their combined rating is less than 70 percent.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for tinnitus, a low back condition, and hepatitis C due to lack of evidence linking these conditions to his military service.

The Veteran's gastrointestinal stromal tumor and its treatment are the primary focus of these claims. The Board finds that a remand is necessary to obtain additional medical records, including VA and non-VA treatment records, and to provide an updated opinion regarding the potential relationship between the Veteran’s 2009 diagnosis and treatment for gastrointestinal stromal tumor and his claimed disabilities.

The Veteran's DJD of the lumbar spine and right knee were caused by his service-connected left knee disability.,Service connection for DJD of the lumbar spine and right knee is granted as secondary to the service-connected left knee disability. The effective date is not specified in this decision.

The Veteran's application to reopen the claim for service connection of a right shoulder disorder was granted. Service connection is also granted for a right shoulder disorder, but the low back disorder remains pending and requires further examination and evidence.

The Veteran's tinnitus is granted as secondary to her service-connected cervical spondylosis. The Board has remanded the cases for further development and examination regarding brain demyelination, hearing loss, numbness and pain claimed as carpal tunnel syndrome of the left and right arms, increased ratings for cervical spondylosis and lumbosacral strain.

The Board has granted service connection for tinnitus. Service connection is being remanded for dextroscoliosis of the lumbar spine and a cervical spine condition to include as secondary to dextroscoliosis.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection of a thoracolumbar spine disability, concluding that there was no evidence of chronic lumbar spine arthritis in service or within a presumptive period. The preponderance of evidence did not support a causal relationship between current thoracolumbar spine diagnoses and back problems during active duty.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim of service connection for a lower back disability, finding no new and material evidence to reopen the claim.,The Board also denied the Veteran's claim of service connection for chloracne, as there was no exposure to herbicides during active duty and no competent medical evidence linking the condition to service.

The Board dismissed the claims of service connection for left thigh and chronic sinusitis as they were fully granted in prior rating decisions. The claims of service connection for left hip strain and left knee strain are granted, with a finding that the Veteran's symptoms began during service. The claim of service connection for low back disorder is remanded.

The Board has remanded the claims of service connection for a back disability and a higher rating for bilateral foot disability due to incomplete records and need for further examination.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for a heart condition, diabetes mellitus, type II, and bilateral lower extremity sciatica as secondary to his service-connected psoriasis.

The Board has granted service connection for bilateral hearing loss. The remaining issues of low back disability, right leg disability, left leg disability, and right ankle disability are remanded due to the need for a VA examination.

The Board has remanded the cases for further development due to inadequate VA examinations and failure to address certain theories of entitlement.

The Board has remanded the claims for increased ratings for PTSD, lumbar spine degenerative disc disease, right foot hallux valgus, left bunionectomy with hallux valgus, and TDIU due to additional development being required.