Back / lumbar spine Board decisions

The Board is remanding the case for further development, including a VA examination to determine if any thoracolumbar spine disorder had its onset during active service or is otherwise related to any in-service disease, event, or injury. The TDIU claim will also be held in abeyance pending resolution of the service connection issue.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for degenerative disc disease L4-L5, with spinal stenosis and TDIU due to his service-connected post-operative pilonidal cyst. The evidence did not support a finding that the Veteran's lumbar spine disability was directly related to service or secondary to his service-connected condition.

The Veteran's claim for an evaluation in excess of 70 percent for major depression associated with chronic lumbosacral strain was granted, and he is now receiving a 70 percent rating effective from August 3, 2009.

The Board found that the Veteran's current low back disability was not incurred or aggravated in service and denied his claim for service connection. The claims of service connection for left ear hearing loss and acquired psychiatric disorder (bipolar disorder) are also denied.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for his low back disability and right lower extremity radiculopathy are being remanded due to the need for additional examination and development of the record.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded due to the need for additional development, including updated VA examinations and obtaining treatment records.

The Board found that the Veteran's low back disability was not incurred in or aggravated by active service and denied his claim on the merits.

The Board has granted the Veteran's application to reopen her claims for service connection for bilateral pes planus, bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus and a left knee disability. She is also granted service connection for bilateral pes planus on an aggravation basis and for tinnitus.

The Board found that the Veteran's hypertension, BPH, breathing/lung disorder, and back disorder were not incurred or aggravated by service, including as due to herbicide exposure. The preponderance of evidence is against these claims.

The Board has determined that further development is required before considering the Veteran's claim for service connection due to missing in-patient or clinical records from his time stationed at Berlin Meddac, Germany. Additionally, VA medical records and treatment logs related to motor vehicle accidents and a previous leg fracture are also needed.

The Board has dismissed the appeal due to the appellant's withdrawal of his claims.

The Board has remanded the case due to the need for a medical opinion regarding whether the Veteran's service-connected disabilities contributed substantially or materially to his death, and to obtain any outstanding VA treatment records.

The Veteran's right lower extremity radiculopathy is currently rated at 20 percent, effective December 18, 2014. The appeal for a higher rating prior to that date was denied. An effective date of March 7, 2011, has been granted for the award of service connection for lumbar spine disability.

The Board denied service connection for a low back disability, hearing loss of the right ear, and depression. The Veteran's low back disability is not shown to have been incurred in or aggravated by service. Hearing loss of the right ear was also not shown to be related to service. Depression is not considered to be related to service.

The Board has reopened the Veteran's claim for service connection for spondylolisthesis and degenerative disc disease of the thoracolumbar spine due to new evidence. The Board also granted service connection for these conditions, finding that they are at least as likely as not caused by the Veteran's military service.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for an initial disability rating in excess of 20 percent for bilateral feet peripheral neuropathy and his claim to reopen a previously denied claim of entitlement to service connection for a back disability. The appeals are currently pending.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's low back disorders, including scoliosis and congenital anomaly at L4 with fusion to L5, are not service-connected as they are considered congenital defects. The degenerative arthritis of the lumbar spine is also found not to be related to active military service.

The Board found that the Veteran's back condition is not related to his military service and denied his claim for service connection.

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

The Board has determined that the Veteran does not have a present hearing loss for VA purposes and therefore, service connection for hearing loss is denied.