Back / lumbar spine Board decisions

The Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, a right knee disability, a left knee disability, and a low back disability have been reopened. However, the evidence does not support these claims.,A VA examination is needed to determine if the Veteran has any current disabilities of his knees or back, and whether they are related to service.

The Board denied service connection for stenosis of the lumbar spine, osteoarthritis of the left patellofemoral joint, right knee disability, cardiomyopathy, and bilateral hearing loss. The decision found that these conditions did not begin during active service or are otherwise related to an in-service injury or disease.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for cause of death, finding that his death was not related to any service-connected disabilities or service events.

The Board has granted service connection for low back, right knee, left knee, and right ankle disabilities. The case is remanded to consider a higher rating for the Veteran's mental health disability.

The Veteran's claim of service connection for a low back disability was denied. The appeal to reopen this claim is denied. Service connection for unspecified depressive disorder with anxious distress, secondary to migraine headaches, is granted.

The Board has determined that the Veteran does not have a current diagnosis of an acquired psychiatric disorder, and thus service connection for this condition is denied. The claims for coronary artery disease, blood clots, thoracolumbar spine disorders, oral disorders involving the maxilla, sleeping disorders, and tinnitus are remanded due to insufficient evidence regarding their etiology.

The Board has remanded the claims of service connection for various disabilities, including right shoulder, left shoulder, back, and right leg disabilities. The reasons are that VA was unable to obtain missing service medical and personnel records from the Adjutant General's Office and private treatment records from Florida General Medicine.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection due to insufficient evidence, including missing medical records from various facilities.

The Board has found that a VA examination is needed for the disabilities to properly adjudicate the issues on appeal, including service connection for various conditions.

The Veteran's service connection claims for bilateral pes planus and low back disability are granted. The claim for a higher rating for vulvovaginitis is denied.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection due to insufficient evidence regarding whether the veteran's current conditions are related to his periods of active duty training (ACDUTRA) or inactive duty training (INACDUTRA).

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for a total disability rating based on individual unemployability due to service-connected disabilities, finding that his service-connected conditions do not render him unable to secure or maintain gainful employment.

The Veteran's claims for service connection are being remanded due to the need for additional development and examination.

The Board has determined that there is sufficient evidence to grant service connection for degenerative disc disease of the lumbar spine, finding it likely related to an in-service injury.

The Veteran's service-connected intervertebral disc syndrome and degenerative disc disease of the lumbar spine are currently rated at 20 percent, but do not meet criteria for a higher rating as there is no evidence of ankylosis or limitation of motion to 30 degrees or less.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims of service connection for tinnitus and a back condition due to lack of evidence linking these conditions to his military service.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for chronic sinusitis, low back disability (claimed as chronic low back pain and disc disease), and depressive disorder has been granted.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for tinnitus, a back condition, and a right knee condition have been reopened. The cases are being remanded to determine the nature of these conditions and their relationship to service.

The Board has remanded the claims for higher ratings for service-connected right foot strain and back disabilities due to incomplete development of records, lack of compliance with prior remand directives, and need for a retrospective medical opinion regarding the severity of the Veteran's service-connected back disability.

The Veteran's service-connected lower back condition is granted an increased rating of 20 percent, effective November 6, 2008.