Back / lumbar spine Board decisions

The Board has determined that the Veteran's lumbar spine disability, left ankle disability, and heart palpitations are not service-connected. The Veteran's back condition is denied as there is no evidence of a chronic disability related to his active duty service. His left ankle disability was also not shown to be caused by any period of service. Lastly, the Board found that the current heart palpitations are secondary to his service-connected PTSD.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's current back disability is related to his in-service injury, and thus service connection for a back disability is granted.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's tinnitus is not related to his military service. For the low back disorder and heart disorder claims, additional medical opinions are needed as the current evidence does not address the Veteran's contentions regarding chemical exposure during service.

The Veteran's claims for earlier effective dates for increased ratings of his service-connected lumbar spine disability and gout have been granted. The effective dates are set as requested.

The Veteran's lumbar spine disability is currently rated at 10 percent, effective January 1, 2007. He also has a compensable evaluation for associated left lower extremity radiculopathy since August 24, 2015.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including obtaining VA treatment records and scheduling a new examination to determine if the Veteran's cervical degenerative disc disease is caused or aggravated by his lumbar spine arthritis or PTSD.

The Veteran's low back DDD was granted a rating of 40 percent effective November 17, 2014. However, service connection for his bilateral hip condition secondary to the low back disability was denied.

The Board has remanded the case due to the need for additional development, including obtaining service personnel records and medical records.

The Veteran's current back disability is etiologically related to his active service, and the Board grants service connection for a back disability.

The Board has determined that the Veteran does not have a currently diagnosed hip disorder, lumbar spine disorder, right knee disorder, or left knee disorder. Therefore, service connection for these conditions is denied.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development of his claims, including obtaining updated VA treatment records and any extant vocational rehabilitation records. The case will be readjudicated after the development.

The Veteran's low back disability is currently rated at 20 percent, but the Board finds that it does not meet or approximate criteria for a higher rating due to lack of incapacitating episodes and limitation of motion.

The Board finds that the Veteran's current low back disorder, including degenerative disc disease, is related to a work-related injury in 2004 and not service connection.

The Board has determined that additional development is necessary before the underlying claim of service connection for a lumbosacral spine disability can be adjudicated on the merits.

The Board has reopened the Veteran's service connection claim for a back disability and remanded it for further development. The case will be returned to the Board after additional evidence is considered.

The Board found that the medical treatment provided by SCH on June 25, 2009 did not meet the prudent layperson standard for an emergency condition and thus denied payment or reimbursement of unauthorized medical expenses.

The Board has decided to remand the case for further development and an examination, as the current VA examination is inadequate and there are conflicting opinions regarding the etiology of the Veteran's low back disorder.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's current back disability, at least in part, began during and continued since his 1975 period of Active Duty for Training (ACDUTRA) service. The appeal is granted.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for a low back disability and polysubstance dependence/mood disorder, claimed as an acquired psychiatric condition, to include anxiety, depression, and PTSD. The decision is based on the lack of current hearing loss disability for VA purposes.

The Board found that the Veteran's current back disability is not related to service and denied his claim for service connection. For ischemic heart disease, the Board determined that a rating in excess of 30 percent was not warranted prior to June 21, 2012, but from June 21, 2012 through July 24, 2015, the disability more nearly approximated a workload of greater than 5 METs with left ventricular ejection fraction between 60 and 65 percent. Beginning July 25, 2015, the rating was not in excess of 30 percent.