Back / lumbar spine Board decisions

The case is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining treatment records and Social Security Administration (SSA) records. The Veteran will also be provided with a VA examination to determine the nature and etiology of his diabetes mellitus and peripheral neuropathy, as well as an opinion regarding his ability to work due to his service-connected disabilities.

The Board has ordered additional development to determine the nature and likely etiology of any current back disability, including whether it is related to service or a pre-existing condition. The Veteran's allegations of continuous back pain since his service are considered.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including a new VA examination and consideration of his TDIU claim. The issues include service connection for left ankle disability, bilateral knee disabilities, and right ankle disability.

The Veteran's claim for a higher rating for his service-connected low back disability is denied. The current 40 percent rating from July 17, 2015, remains unchanged.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's low back disability, diagnosed as lumbar muscle strain and disc herniations at L4-5 and L5-S1, is related to his period of military service. The claim for service connection is granted.

The Board has remanded the case to ensure a complete record upon which to decide the Veteran's claim of service connection for a low back disability, to include as secondary to service-connected bilateral knee disabilities. The VA examiner is requested to provide an addendum opinion regarding whether either one or both of the service-connected bilateral knee disabilities aggravated the low back disability.

The Veteran's claims for service connection and increased ratings were denied. The Board found that the Veteran did not have bilateral carpal tunnel syndrome in service or within one year after discharge, residuals of a bilateral mandible fracture are not manifested by reduction in range of motion, displacement of the mandible, and loss of masticatory function, chondromalacia patella with degenerative joint disease of the left knee is not manifested by limitation of flexion to 30 degrees or less, limitation of extension to 5 degrees or more, ankylosis, subluxation or lateral instability, dislocation of semilunar cartilage, symptomatic removal of semilunar cartilage, malunion of the tibia and fibula, or genu recurvatum. The chondromalacia patella with degenerative joint disease of the right knee is not manifested by limitation of flexion to 30 degrees or less, limitation of extension to 5 degrees or more, ankylosis, subluxation or lateral instability, dislocation of semilunar cartilage, symptomatic removal of semilunar cartilage, malunion of the tibia and fibula, or genu recurvatum.

The Veteran's service connection claims for lumbar spine, right knee, and left knee disabilities were denied as there is no current disability found to be related to his military service.

The Veteran seeks a clothing allowance for wear and tear on his clothing due to service-connected conditions (low back disability, bilateral knee disabilities, and skin disability) and topical medication use. The issue is being held in abeyance until other pending claims are adjudicated.

The Board has determined that the Veteran does not have a current diagnosis of left, right knee disorders or low back disorder. Therefore, service connection for these conditions is denied.

The Board has remanded the claims for an increased staged evaluation for the service-connected lumbar paravertebral myositis and entitlement to service connection for bilateral lower extremity neuropathy due to issues raised in a Joint Motion for Partial Remand (JMR).

The Board found that the Veteran's current back disability did not manifest within a year of his separation from active duty service and that there was no evidence to support a finding that it is related to his military service.

The Veteran does not have a current low back, right knee, or bilateral ankle disability as a result of any disease, event, or injury during active service.,VA examinations and the Veteran's own testimony indicate that his disabilities are more likely due to aging/degenerative processes rather than in-service parachute jumps.

The Board found no evidence of a current disability for the Veteran's back disorder, bilateral hearing loss, or skin disorder and denied all service connection claims.

The Veteran's claim for a total disability rating based on individual unemployability (TDIU) prior to July 17, 2012 is being remanded due to its inextricability with his claims for service connection for lumbar spine and cervical spine disorders. The case will be adjudicated again after the development of these related issues.

The Veteran's claim for an increased evaluation for his lumbar spine disability and TDIU was denied as the evidence did not meet the criteria for a higher rating under the applicable VA rating schedule.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for a Travel Board hearing. The issues of service connection for lumbar spine degenerative joint disease, tinnitus, and whether new and material evidence has been submitted to reopen service connection for headaches are pending.

The Board has reopened the claims of service connection for low back and cervical spine disabilities due to new evidence submitted since the last final denial. The Veteran's current disabilities are found to be related to her military service.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded to obtain additional medical records and conduct a VA examination for his hair loss disability. The remaining claims are also being remanded as the RO has not yet issued an SOC.

The Veteran's claim for reimbursement of private medical expenses on December 20, 2010 is denied as the treatment was not for an emergency and there were no service-connected conditions at that time.