Back / lumbar spine Board decisions

The Veteran's claim is granted as the medical expenses incurred for emergency room services at Carondelet Holy Cross on April 23, 2013 are authorized and reimbursable due to a service-connected condition.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for a rescheduled hearing before a Veterans Law Judge of the Board.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims due to inadequate medical opinions and the need for updated VA treatment records. The TDIU issue is inextricably intertwined with the lumbar spine claim.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's back, right knee, and right shoulder disabilities are not related to his active service. The preponderance of evidence does not support a finding of chronicity or incurrence during service.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's DDD of the lumbar spine with associated right lower extremity radiculopathy was incurred in active service.

The Veteran's combined rating for his service-connected disabilities is 60%, which does not meet the schedular requirements for a TDIU. However, due to his employment history and education level, he may be unemployable as a result of his lumbar spine disability on an extraschedular basis.

The Veteran's current disabilities of the right foot, right knee, left leg, and low back are not considered to be related to his in-service shrapnel injuries. The Board finds that there is no credible evidence linking these conditions to service.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for his right and left knee disabilities, as well as service connection for a low back disability secondary to his knees, were granted. The effective date is not specified.

The Board has granted service connection for erectile dysfunction, finding it at least as likely as not caused by the Veteran's service-connected PTSD and/or medications used to treat PTSD. The claim of entitlement to an increased evaluation for DJD of the thoracolumbar spine remains in remand status due to inadequate VA examination.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including providing clarifications to a previous VA medical examination report and possibly scheduling another VA examination. The Veteran's claim will be readjudicated based on all evidence.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not prevent him from finding and maintaining substantially gainful employment that is sedentary in nature.

The Board has decided to remand the case for additional development, including obtaining missing service treatment records and scheduling VA examinations.

The Board has reopened the Veteran's claim for service connection for diabetes mellitus, type II. The disability rating for chronic degenerative disc disease at C5 was restored to 20 percent effective November 1, 2009.

The Board has granted service connection for left hip degenerative joint disease and low back degenerative disk disease, finding that these conditions are aggravated by the Veteran's service-connected right knee disability. The claim of reopening a low back disability was also granted.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims of service connection for hypertension and low back disability, finding that new evidence did not raise a reasonable possibility of substantiating these claims, and that there was no link between his current conditions and his military service.

The Veteran's claims for service connection are being remanded due to the need for additional development, including obtaining relevant SSA records and verifying herbicide exposure. A VA examination is also needed to determine if current disabilities are related to service.

The Veteran's claim for a compensable rating for recurrent epididymitis was granted, with a 10% disability rating. The service connection claim for a low back disorder remains denied.

The Veteran's audiometric data throughout the appeal period does not show impaired hearing in either ear. The Board finds that service connection for bilateral hearing loss must be denied at this time.

The Board has determined that additional development is needed to determine the nature and etiology of the Veteran's claimed disabilities, including his back disability, bilateral hearing loss, peripheral neuropathy, and tinnitus.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded due to the need for a new VA examination to assess the current severity of his service-connected lumbar strain and hallux rigidus. The case will be returned to the Board after this additional development.