Back / lumbar spine Board decisions

The Board found that the Veteran's current back disability is related to service, and granted his claim for service connection.

The Board found no evidence linking the Veteran's current back strain and lumbar osteoarthritis to his time in service, including a diagnosed muscle strain during active duty. The examiner concluded that any link between these conditions and service was doubtful.

The Board has decided to remand the case for additional development due to incomplete service records and conflicting statements regarding a motor vehicle accident during service.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for chronic bronchitis have been reopened. However, his increased rating claims for degenerative disease of the lumbosacral spine and bilateral hearing loss disability remain denied.

The Veteran's bipolar disorder is related to his service-connected cervical myositis and bulging disc, thoracic discogenic disease and lumbosacral bulging disc, neurodermatitis, post-inflammatory hyperpigmentation (previously an unspecified skin condition of the bilateral calves and forearms), obstructive sleep apnea, and residuals of a left ankle fracture. The Veteran's cervical myositis and bulging disc, thoracic discogenic disease and lumbosacral bulging disc are granted with initial ratings in excess of 10 percent.

The Board finds that the Veteran did not incur an injury involving the spine, upper or lower extremities, or genitourinary system during active service. The symptoms of residuals from a rocket fragment wound to the thoracolumbar spine are not chronic and have not been unremitting since service separation.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining VA and private medical records and scheduling a VA examination to assess the current severity of his service-connected back disability.

The Board found that there is no evidence showing hypertension manifested during service or within one year of separation, and thus denied the claim for service connection. The Veteran's right hip disorder and low back disorder claims are not currently on appeal as they were addressed in a separate decision.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for scheduling a videoconference hearing at the RO in St. Petersburg, Florida.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's current low back disabilities, including degenerative disc disease of the lumbar spine, are attributable to service and grants service connection for these conditions.

The VA determined that the Veteran's back disability is not related to his service or a service-connected condition, and thus denied his claim for service connection.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection due to insufficient medical evidence and a need to obtain additional records, particularly related to any work injury claim. The Veteran will undergo VA examinations to determine if his current sinusitis, chronic pharyngitis, sciatic nerve disability, or low back disability are at least as likely as not related to his active duty service.

The Board has determined that there is no evidence of a low back disability in service and the preponderance of the evidence does not support a finding that any current low back disability is related to service. The Veteran's hypertension was also not incurred in service, and the preponderance of the evidence is against a finding that it is related to his service.

The Veteran's low back disability was rated at 40 percent from May 1, 2005; 20 percent from December 1, 2008; and 40 percent from March 30, 2012. The rating for right lower extremity radiculopathy was also granted.

The Veteran's claims of entitlement to service connection for a lumbar spine disability and right knee disability have been denied as the Veteran failed to report for scheduled VA examinations, which were necessary to properly adjudicate these claims.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for a low back disorder and TDIU, finding that there was no evidence of an in-service injury or disease leading to his current condition. The Board also noted that his service-connected disabilities did not preclude him from securing or following a substantially gainful occupation.

The Veteran's right lower extremity radiculopathy is rated at 10 percent since October 20, 2012. The left lower extremity radiculopathy has been rated at 20 percent from January 7, 2008.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including obtaining updated VA treatment records and providing the Veteran with VA examinations to address his claims. The issues remaining for adjudication are limited to those listed on the Title Page.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for various conditions, including a right elbow injury and head injuries. The decision is based on insufficient competent medical evidence.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for left hip degenerative joint disease and lumbar spine disability, finding that these conditions were not shown in service or within the initial post-service year.,There is no evidence of a nexus between the current disabilities and service.