Back / lumbar spine Board decisions

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded to obtain additional VA examinations and to obtain any outstanding private treatment records. The case will be reviewed for readjudication.

The Veteran's spine disorder, including DDD and DJD, is not service-connected as there was no chronic in-service disability or continuity of symptomatology since separation. The right hand/finger and wrist disorders are also not service-connected due to lack of a link to the service-connected right elbow disability.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's lumbar spine degenerative disc disease and right shoulder impingement were incurred during his active duty service, thus granting service connection for these conditions.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded due to the need for a new VA examination to determine the nature and severity of his low back disability, including testing at the point where pain begins.

The Board has determined that a VA examination is needed to determine the nature and etiology of any diagnosed low back disability, as the appellant's statements and medical records indicate an association between his active duty for training and his current condition.

The Veteran's service-connected bilateral maxillary and ethmoid sinusitis has not been productive of three or more incapacitating episodes per year requiring prolonged antibiotic treatment, nor more than six non-incapacitating episodes per year characterized by headaches, pain, and purulent discharge. The Veteran's thoracic spine dextroscoliosis with lumbar spine levoscoliosis disability is productive of at least painful motion since the effective date of service connection.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's cervical and lumbar disorders are not etiologically related to his active duty service.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's low back disability was not incurred in service and is not otherwise related to an injury or disease in service. As such, the claim for service connection for a low back disability is denied.

The Board found that the Veteran's thoracolumbar spine disability clearly and unmistakably existed prior to service and was not aggravated by an in-service event, injury or illness. As a result, the claim for service connection is denied.

The Board has remanded the case for further development, including obtaining additional medical records and scheduling a VA examination to determine if any current thoracic spine disability is related to service.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's alcohol abuse is caused by his service-connected PTSD. Therefore, the claim of service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder other than PTSD is granted.

The Veteran's service-connected status post laminectomy with advanced osteoarthritis of the thoracolumbar spine is currently rated at 40 percent, effective January 15, 2015.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including a new VA examination to assess the severity of his lumbar and cervical spine disabilities.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection, increased ratings for left knee disability and TDIU due to service-connected disabilities. The issues of entitlement to service connection have not been addressed.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claim of entitlement to service connection for cervical spine disability due to inadequate examination and opinion regarding the etiology of any diagnosed condition.

The Board has reopened the claim for service connection for a low back disorder and finds that new evidence received since the last final denial supports the Veteran's contention that his current low back disorder is related to service.

The appeal is being remanded due to the need for additional records from the Social Security Administration (SSA). The Veteran's claim will be reconsidered after these records are obtained.

The Veteran's appeal for service connection of a back disability has been dismissed due to his death.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for hearing loss was denied as there is no evidence of a current disability.,Service connection for pes planus was denied because the mild pes planus noted at entry did not worsen during active service.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for further development of his claims for service connection for a recurrent lumbar spine disorder and an acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD, anxiety, and depression.