Back / lumbar spine decisions — 2013

The Board denied the appellant's claim for service connection and basic eligibility for VA compensation, finding that she did not have qualifying active military, air or naval service.

The Board denied service connection for a sleep disorder and back disorder, finding that the Veteran's current symptoms are related to his service-connected major depressive disorder. The Board also found no evidence of a chronic back disability in service or within one year thereafter.

The Board has remanded the case for further development, including obtaining additional treatment records and scheduling a VA examination to address the Veteran's claims for service connection for low back disability with radiculopathy and an initial rating in excess of 30 percent for coronary artery disease.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded due to the need for a videoconference hearing before a Veterans Law Judge of the Board.

The Veteran has withdrawn his appeals for the issues of service connection for a low back disorder, bilateral shoulder disorder, tingling of the hands, bilateral knee disorder and blurred vision.

The Board has granted service connection for bilateral hearing loss, finding that the Veteran's current condition is causally related to in-service noise exposure. The claim for service connection of low back disability remains pending as there are insufficient records available to determine its onset or etiology.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for a low back disorder and skin disorder are being remanded due to the need for additional development, including medical examinations.

The case is being remanded for further development, including adjudicating the Veteran's claims for higher ratings of his service-connected disabilities and considering a TDIU under 38 C.F.R. § 4.16(b).

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development and due process concerns, including obtaining Social Security Administration (SSA) records and up-to-date VA treatment records.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for a low back disability and a right leg disability, finding that there is no evidence of a current disability related to military service.

The Veteran's claim for a higher rating for his service-connected lumbar spine disability was denied. The RO/AMC increased the disability rating to 60 percent effective April 17, 2012.

The Veteran's appeal has been withdrawn, and his case is dismissed.

The Veteran's PTSD was granted a higher initial rating of 70 percent effective November 5, 2009. The other issues were either denied or not addressed in the decision.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for a lumbar spine disability is pending. The Board notes that the issue of service connection for a left ankle disability was denied, and his claim to reopen his previously denied claim for service connection for bipolar disorder has been granted with an effective date of February 19, 2008.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for left knee, right hip, and low back disabilities were denied initially. New evidence received since the May 2005 Board decision does not raise a reasonable possibility of substantiating these claims.

The Board has determined that the Veteran does not have a current back or bilateral foot disability that is attributable to his military service and thus denied both claims for service connection.

The Board has decided to remand the Veteran's claims for further action, including scheduling a Travel Board hearing.

The Veteran's appeal has been withdrawn, and the Board does not have jurisdiction to review the claims for increase.

The Veteran's cervical spine degenerative joint disease and thoracolumbar spine traumatic arthritis have been rated at the maximum available benefit, with no further increase in ratings granted.

The Board has ordered the case to be returned to the RO for initial consideration of new evidence submitted by the Veteran and his representative. The claims for service connection for low back disorder and left foot disorder will be reconsidered.