Back / lumbar spine Board decisions

The Veteran's claims for increased disability rating and TDIU have been remanded due to the need for additional examinations, including a VA spine examination. The Veteran also needs to provide updated VA treatment records.

The Veteran's claims for service connection are being remanded due to the need for additional development, including obtaining relevant VA treatment records and attempting to obtain Fort Sill Army Community Hospital records. The Veteran is also required to undergo a VA examination to determine the nature and etiology of his right knee and lumbar spine disorders.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development due to incomplete records and need for further medical opinions.

The Board found no evidence of a chronic back disability or leg numbness during service, and the VA examiner concluded that any current low back condition is not related to service. The bilateral leg numbness was also not linked to service.

The Veteran is granted a disability rating of 60 percent for his lumbar spine disability from April 5, 2012 to December 16, 2014. He remains entitled to a 20 percent disability rating at all other times during the period on appeal.

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

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for further development, including a new VA examination to assess the severity of his degenerative disc disease and consideration of his claim for TDIU.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including obtaining VA treatment records and providing medical opinions regarding asbestos exposure, hepatitis B, and C. The Veteran's claims of service connection for these conditions are pending.

The Veteran's major depressive disorder and low back disability are found to have begun in service, with no evidence of pre-service onset or intervening events that would warrant reopening the claims. Both conditions are considered direct service connection cases.,Service records document the Veteran's complaints of psychiatric symptoms during active duty, including insomnia and depression, as well as her current diagnosis of major depressive disorder. Her low back disability is also linked to in-service injuries, with no evidence of pre-service onset or intervening events that would warrant reopening the claims.

The Veteran's appeals for increased ratings and service connection were denied. The claim to reopen a disability manifested by fatigue (undiagnosed illness) was not supported by new and material evidence, while the claim to reopen a disability manifested by joint aches (undiagnosed illness) was supported by such evidence.

The Veteran's low back disability is rated at the maximum available under the General Rating Formula for Diseases and Injuries of the Spine, with an evaluation of 40 percent. The bilateral pes planus has been granted a 30 percent rating since October 30, 2009. Hyperhidrosis of the palms is not service-connected.

The Veteran's claims for service connection have been granted, with the exception of her claim for allergic rhinitis and recurrent sinusitis. The Board finds that a VA examination is warranted to determine if these conditions are related to service.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for increased ratings and secondary service connection, finding no new and material evidence to reopen her previously denied claims.

The Board has dismissed the appeal of the Veteran's claim for service connection for a lumbosacral spine strain, to include degenerative arthritis of the lumbar spine. The claims for service connection for dyslipidemia and bilateral hearing loss disability have been granted. However, the claim for hypertension (to include as secondary to IHD) has not been resolved.

The Board has remanded the case due to the need for additional examinations and development of evidence, including obtaining updated VA treatment records.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded due to the need for additional examinations and development of his claims.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for increased rating for his service-connected psychological disorder and service connection for a back condition. The Veteran testified at his hearing that his service connected psychological disorder has worsened.

The Board has remanded the case due to the need for additional development, including obtaining VA treatment records and providing an addendum opinion from a medical professional.

The Board found no current back disability and denied the Veteran's claim for service connection.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's low back disability, including spondylolisthesis, is service connected as it manifested during his active duty service and there is no clear and unmistakable evidence to rebut the presumption of soundness at enlistment.