Back / lumbar spine Board decisions

The Veteran's thoracic spine disability is currently rated as 20 percent disabling, and the Board finds no basis for a higher rating based on current evidence of record.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development due to an inability to conduct a requested examination at the Veteran's preferred location.

The Veteran's appeal is denied as the claim for an increased rating for left ankle degenerative changes was not granted, and service connection for cervical spine degenerative changes (claimed as neck condition), right shoulder rotator cuff tear (claimed as right shoulder condition), and thoracolumbar spine intervertebral disc disease/degenerative changes (claimed as back condition) were also denied.

The Board found that the Veteran's calluses on his feet did not develop as a result of service and were not related to any incident during his military service. The lumbar spine disorder was also determined not to have developed due to service, either within one year of discharge or as a direct result of service.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded to schedule a hearing at the RO for issues related to service connection and vocational rehabilitation and education services. The original claim was not about these specific issues.

The Board found no evidence of a chronic back disability in service or within the presumptive period post-service, and concluded that any current back disability is less likely related to service.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's current left knee and low back disorders are not related to his active service, and thus denied these claims.

The Board has determined that new and material evidence has not been received to reopen the claim of service connection for a low back disorder. The Veteran's statements, including his testimony at the June 2013 Board hearing, provided additional information regarding his low back disorder but did not establish a nexus between his current condition and military service.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims of service connection for a lumbar spine disorder and cervical spine disorder. The claim for lumbar spine disorder was previously denied, and new evidence did not raise a reasonable possibility of substantiating the claim. For the cervical spine disorder, there is no indication that it began during or was caused by active service.

The Board has remanded the case due to the need for additional development, including obtaining Social Security Administration records and scheduling a VA examination.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded due to the need to obtain additional medical records and conduct further examinations. The claims for service connection, increased ratings, and other issues will be reconsidered after these actions.

The Veteran's PTSD is currently rated at 70 percent disabling, reflecting total occupational and social impairment due to symptoms such as gross impairment in thought processes or communication; persistent delusions or hallucinations; gross inappropriate behavior; persistent danger of hurting self or others; intermittent inability to perform activities of daily living (including maintenance of minimal personal hygiene); disorientation to time or place; memory loss for names of close relatives, own occupation or hometown.

The Veteran's back disability, bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, diabetes mellitus, type II, peripheral neuropathy of the upper and lower extremities, and acquired psychiatric disorder (PTSD) are all found to be related to service.,Service connection is granted for these conditions.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient evidence of current disability severity and a need for additional examinations.

The Veteran is not entitled to VA compensation benefits in lieu of military retired pay before September 17, 1998. The issue of the calculation of compensation benefits based on a September 17, 1998, election of compensation benefits in lieu of receipt of military retired pay is being remanded for further action.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development due to incomplete records and further medical opinions regarding the Veteran's claimed conditions.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's currently diagnosed lumbar spine disability is not related to service or a service-connected left knee disability, and thus denied his claim for service connection.

The Board has remanded the case due to incomplete service treatment records and requests for further efforts to locate all available in-service hospitalization records from Ellsworth Air Force Base.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded due to incomplete records and the need for a current evaluation of his feasibility for vocational rehabilitation benefits.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's low back disability and generalized anxiety disorder are related to service, granting service connection for these conditions. The prostate disability and bilateral sacroiliac joint pain issues remain pending.