Back / lumbar spine Board decisions

The Board has determined that the Veteran's current lumbar and cervical spine disabilities are related to his active service, with the evidence being in relative equipoise as to whether these conditions were incurred during service.

The Board has granted service connection for residuals of right labrum tear with old shoulder dislocation, biceps tendonitis, and inflammatory changes and lumbar herniated nucleus pulposus at L5-S1.

The Board found that the Veteran's acquired psychiatric disability, including PTSD and depression/anxiety, manifested by cold sweats, had its onset in service. The bilateral foot disability (pes planus and plantar fasciitis) was not incurred or aggravated by active service. The bilateral knee disability was not incurred in service, nor is it due to a service-connected disability. The hearing loss disability of either ear was not incurred in service. Tinnitus is presumed to have been incurred in service.

The Board found that the Veteran's back disability was not manifested in service or for many years thereafter, and is not shown to be related to his service. Therefore, service connection for a back disability is denied.

The Veteran does not have current diagnoses of acne vulgaris, bilateral shoulder disorder, clavicle disorder, or bilateral knee disorder. The Board finds that service connection is denied for these conditions.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for left and right knee disabilities, as well as upper back and neck disabilities due to incomplete medical records and need for further examination.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to insufficient evidence regarding whether the Veteran's low back disability is related to his military service. The VA will need to obtain additional medical records and schedule a VA examination for the Veteran.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional VA examinations and development of the claims file. The issues include service connection for cervical spine, lumbar spine, right shin, left shin, and right thigh disorders.

The Veteran's claim for compensation under 38 U.S.C. § 1151 was denied because the surgery, performed by a private provider at a non-VA facility, did not meet the requirements of the statute and regulations.

The Board has determined that the appellant's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss, right shoulder disorder, cervical spine (neck) disorder, headaches, and lumbar spine (low back) disorder have been withdrawn. The claim for a low back disorder was denied as there is no evidence of arthritis manifest to 10% within one year of separation from active duty.

The Veteran's claim for an increased disability rating for his service-connected lumbar spine disability is being remanded due to the need for additional development, including a VA examination.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are service-connected as they were caused by noise exposure during his active military service.,However, the Board found insufficient evidence to support a finding of service connection for the low back disorder due to an injury sustained while on active duty.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development to obtain medical opinions and SSA records, as well as to clarify whether service connection is warranted for an acquired psychiatric disorder, low back disability, and left knee disability.

The Board has granted service connection for bilateral pes planus and left knee patellofemoral syndrome, finding that the Veteran's preexisting conditions were aggravated by active duty. The major depressive disorder remains at a 70% rating.

The Board has determined that new and material evidence has not been received to reopen the Veteran's claims for service connection for a right hip disability and low back disability, as the evidence does not relate these disabilities to a qualifying period of active duty service.

The Veteran's claim for TDIU is being remanded due to the need to obtain a copy of any SSA decision regarding her entitlement to disability benefits.

The Board found that the Veteran's current back disability did not have onset during active service or within one year of service discharge, was first diagnosed many years after active service, and is otherwise etiologically unrelated to active service.

The Board has granted new and material evidence for the Veteran's claim of service connection for a low back disability. The underlying de novo claim for service connection is REMANDED to the Agency of Original Jurisdiction (AOJ).

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including brain cyst, degenerative disc disease of the lumbar spine, headaches, fibromyalgia, cervical spine degenerative disc disease, and bilateral tinnitus, preclude him from obtaining or maintaining substantially gainful employment.

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