Back / lumbar spine Board decisions

The claim for service connection for a back condition is dismissed, and the case is remanded for an initial rating in excess of 70 percent for PTSD.

The Board has granted service connection for lumbosacral strain, but remanded the issue of service connection for shin splints (stress fractures of the shins).

The Board has remanded the case for further examination and opinion regarding service connection for lower back disability, left shoulder disability, and right shoulder disability. The Veteran's anxiety disorder was granted service connection with an effective date of November 15, 2012.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for left ankle, back, neck, and left knee disorders as there is no evidence of current disabilities or a relationship to service.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection of a low back disability, finding that there is no evidence to support a link between his current condition and an in-service motor vehicle accident. The preponderance of evidence does not support a finding of service connection.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's current lumbar spine disability is related to his active duty service, and thus grants service connection for this condition.

The Board has determined that a VA examination is needed to determine the nature and etiology of any back disability, including whether it is related to service. The appeal will be remanded for this purpose.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for initial ratings in excess of 20 percent for left and right lumbar radiculopathy, finding that his symptoms were best characterized as moderate.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's low back disability, including chronic lumbar strain with degenerative disc disease (DDD), was incurred during his active duty service and is therefore granted service connection.

The Board has remanded 10 issues related to tinnitus, allergic rhinitis, psoriasis, and various forms of rheumatoid arthritis due to the lack of service treatment records. The RO is instructed to attempt to locate these records through multiple avenues.

The Veteran's back disability is rated at 10 percent prior to December 25, 2013 and 40 percent thereafter. The Board has remanded the case for further evaluation.

The Veteran's initial disability ratings for thoracic spine spondylosis and lumbar spine degenerative arthritis are being remanded due to outstanding VA or private treatment records.

The Board has reopened the Veteran's claim for service connection for a lumbar spine disability due to new and material evidence. However, the claim is denied as there is no evidence that the current condition began during or was caused by service.

The Board has decided to remand the claims for service connection and TDIU due to insufficient evidence regarding the nature and etiology of the Veteran's lumbar disability. The case will be returned to the RO for further development.

The Board denied a higher disability evaluation for the Veteran's low back strain with degenerative disc disease of the lumbar spine, as there was no showing of ankylosis at any level of the spine.

The Veteran's lumbar spine DDD has been rated at 40% since August 21, 2017. The claim for TDIU prior to this date is denied.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for a lumbar spine disability and hypertension, as well as his claim for TDIU prior to June 25, 2013. The claims are being remanded due to the need for additional medical opinions regarding the etiology of these conditions.

The Veteran's claim for a higher rating for his lumbosacral strain was denied as the evidence did not meet the criteria for a 20% rating prior to March 31, 2015. The effective date of December 23, 2014 is upheld.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, increased ratings for IVDS and right lower extremity lumbar radiculopathy, and earlier effective date for TDIU due to inadequate VA examinations.

The Veteran's degenerative arthritis and degenerative disc disease of the cervical spine are granted as service-connected due to a presumption based on active duty service.