Back / lumbar spine Board decisions

The Board finds that the Veteran does not have a current low back or cervical spine disability, and thus service connection for these conditions is denied.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for a low back disorder, as secondary to his right knee pain, post-operative; and for an increased rating for his right knee pain are being remanded. Additionally, the TDIU claim is also being remanded.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development due to inadequate examination and incomplete record, including a need for clarification of the relationship between any in-service motor vehicle accident and the Veteran's current low back disorder.

The Veteran's low back disability was evaluated at a 20 percent rating prior to July 14, 2010. From July 14, 2010 to April 16, 2013, the Veteran received a 40 percent rating for his service-connected lumbar spine disability. Since then, he has been rated at 60 percent.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including scheduling VA examinations to assess the severity of his low back disability and fibromyalgia, and obtaining a VA opinion regarding the relationship between his bilateral plantar fasciitis and service-connected fibromyalgia.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's current low back disorder is not related to her active military service and therefore denied her claim for service connection.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for further development, including a new examination to evaluate his lumbar spine disability. The issue of entitlement to a higher rating remains pending.

The Veteran's degenerative arthritis of the lumbar spine does not meet or approximate the criteria for a rating in excess of 10 percent under any applicable diagnostic code.

The Board has remanded the case due to incomplete records and a need for additional development, including obtaining treatment records from Northern Rockies Neurosurgeons and requesting an addendum VA medical opinion.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's lumbar spine and bilateral hip disabilities were not incurred or aggravated by service, including his right foot heel spur with plantar fasciitis.

The Board finds that service connection for cervical spine degenerative disc disease and degenerative joint disease is granted, as the evidence supports a finding of continuity of symptomatology since service.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for various conditions, including hypertension, cardiac disability, diabetes mellitus, low back disability, prostate cancer, and thyroid disability, were denied as there was no evidence of exposure to ionizing radiation during service. The Board found that the Veteran did not have a diagnosis of depression or head rash at any time during the period on appeal.

The Veteran's DDD of the cervical spine with IVDS of circumflex nerve status-post discectomy C5-6 is rated at 20 percent effective from June 29, 2011. The Veteran's peripheral neuropathy right upper extremity associated with DDD of the cervical spine with IVDS of circumflex nerve status-post discectomy C5-6 was also granted a separate compensable rating.

The Veteran's sleep apnea is granted as secondary to service-connected asthma, hypertension, and allergic rhinitis. The effective date for the lumbar spine disability remains April 3, 2008 due to lack of prior communication regarding this condition before that date.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for further development, including obtaining VA treatment records and a medical opinion regarding the etiology of his low back disorder. The claims will be readjudicated after all development has been completed.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for right ear hearing loss, a back disability, bilateral lower extremity disability, and heart disability. The issues of service connection for a TDIU have been remanded.

The Board has reopened the Veteran's claims for service connection for left knee, right knee, and back conditions. The evidence submitted since the final denial is considered new and material.

The Veteran's service connection for GERD is granted, and his claim for an increased rating for chronic myofasciitis of the low back is remanded.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for PTSD has been granted. The low back disability and lateral patellar friction syndrome claims are pending as the Board is unable to determine their status due to lack of information.

The Board has granted service connection for tinnitus, finding that the Veteran's current symptoms are related to his active service. The other claims remain pending and will be remanded for further development.