Back / lumbar spine Board decisions

The Veteran's claim for service connection for a lumbar spine disability, secondary to the service-connected left knee disability, was denied. The claim for service connection for major depression, also secondary to the service-connected left knee disability, has been reopened but requires further development.,The claims of service connection for cervical spine disability and bilateral upper extremity carpal tunnel syndrome (CTS), both secondary to the service-connected left knee disability, are pending further development.

The Veteran's claim of service connection for a back disability has been reopened and granted. However, the Board denied an increased rating for pyelonephritis.

The Board denied service connection for low back disability, right knee disability, left knee disability, bilateral foot disability, and allergic rhinitis as these conditions are not related to service.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's claimed disabilities, including residuals of a left elbow fracture, back disability, residuals of a left femur fracture, residuals of a left knee fracture, residuals of a fractured left tibia and fibula, left leg condition, residuals of a fractured pelvis, and scars, are all etiologically caused by an accident on the way to weekend training for his duties as part of the South Carolina Army National Guard in December 1970. As such, service connection is granted for these conditions.

The Board has granted the reopening of claims for service connection for right shoulder disability, back disability, and tinnitus. The claims for right shoulder disability and back disability are remanded due to additional evidence needed. The claim for bilateral hearing loss is also remanded.

The appeal for service connection of a low back condition is dismissed. Service connection and grants for skin cancer and scars secondary to skin cancer are granted.

The Board has decided to remand the claims for a back disability, flatfeet including arthritis, ulcerative esophagitis, and a nervous stomach disorder manifested by diarrhea. The decision is based on missing records from the Veteran's electronic claims folder and incomplete private treatment records.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for right breast cancer, Graves' disease, and lumbar degenerative disease have been denied as there is no evidence of a link between these conditions and her military service.

The Veteran's claim for special monthly compensation based on the need for aid and attendance or housebound status is remanded due to incomplete records and the need for a new VA examination.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims of service connection for sleep apnea, a back disability, and a respiratory disability due to insufficient evidence regarding their onset or relationship to service.

The Veteran's lumbar spine disability is rated at 40 percent, effective May 6, 2011. The rating for left lower extremity radiculopathy associated with the lumbar spine condition is granted at a 10 percent rating.

The Board has remanded the claims for a right arm/shoulder disability, back disability, sleep apnea, and an acquired psychiatric disability (to include depression and PTSD) due to potential new evidence or clarification of service connection.

The Veteran's cervical spine disability is granted as secondary to his service-connected thoracolumbar spine disability.,A rating in excess of 10 percent for the right ankle disability is denied.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for a cervical spine condition was reopened and granted. The appeal for service connection of the right shoulder condition is remanded.

The Board has denied service connection for ear drum disability and remanded the issue of back disability due to lack of current evidence and need for a medical opinion.

The Veteran's service connection claims for degenerative changes of the lumbar spine and ischemic heart disease are granted due to direct service connection, with ischemic heart disease being presumed based on herbicide agent exposure.

The Board has remanded the claims of service connection for low back disability, sinus disability, bilateral ear disability, and sore throat due to incomplete verification of active duty training (ACDUTRA) and inactive duty training (INACDUTRA). The VA examiner's opinions need to be revised based on new evidence.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for chronic low back strain and PTSD, as well as the cause of death claim, were denied. The Board found that his service-connected disabilities did not meet criteria for higher disability ratings under either old or new rating criteria.

The Board denied service connection for various conditions, including DDD of the cervical and thoracolumbar spine, bilateral hearing loss, GERD, obstructive sleep apnea, hypertension, dermatitis, squamous cell skin cancer, CTS, upper and lower extremity peripheral neuropathy, TBI, and migraine headaches. The Board found that there was no in-service injury or event supporting the claims for these conditions.

The Veteran's appeals for increased evaluations were dismissed. The Board also remanded several issues related to his service-connected disabilities.