Back / lumbar spine Board decisions

The Veteran's PTSD is granted as service connected. The cases for increased disability ratings are remanded.

The Board denied reopening the claims for service connection for low back pain, right underarm disability, and bilateral leg disability due to lack of new and material evidence.

The Veteran's lumbosacral strain is rated at 10 percent, but the Board found that a higher rating is not warranted based on the evidence of record. The appeal for an increased rating remains pending.

The Board has restored service connection for DDD of the lumbar spine, bilateral hips, and feet. Service connection is also granted for secondary peripheral nerve entrapment syndromes of the right and left lower extremities. The Veteran's hypertension is rated at 10%.

The Veteran's claim for an increased rating for his service-connected lumbar vertebral fractures with thoracolumbar kyphoscoliosis, dextroscoliosis, and severe back strain is being remanded due to the need for additional examinations to assess the severity of his disability.

The Veteran's claim for a rating in excess of 40 percent for degenerative joint disease of the lumbar spine has been dismissed.,New and material evidence has been received to reopen the Veteran’s claim for service connection for diabetes mellitus, but the claim is only granted on this basis.,Service connection for left hip disorder and right hip disorder have both been denied as secondary to service-connected degenerative joint disease of the lumbar spine.,Service connection for PTSD has been granted.,The Veteran's original claim for service connection for degenerative joint disease of the lumbar spine was denied in 2006, with no appeal received within one year. The current effective date is December 8, 2011.

The Board has determined that further development of the medical evidence is required to decide the Veteran's claim for service connection for a back condition, claimed as DDD and bulging discs. The examiner must provide an opinion regarding whether any identified back conditions are etiologically related to the Veteran’s active military service.

The Board has granted service connection for cervical spine, lumbar spine, right knee, and left knee disabilities. The claims for radiculopathy of the right leg and left leg are remanded due to lack of a definitive diagnosis in the record.

The Veteran's appeals have been dismissed as he has withdrawn his requests for service connection and increased ratings, along with the effective date of a disability rating.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities did not render him unable to maintain substantially gainful employment from June 8, 2007 to May 1, 2010.

The Board has reopened the Veteran's claims for service connection for lumbar spine degenerative disc disease and radiculopathy (numbness of the entire right side of the body) due to new evidence. However, the claim for service connection remains denied as there is no credible evidence linking these conditions to service.

The Board denied service connection for a neck disorder and a low back disorder, finding that the Veteran did not have these conditions during or within one year after his military service. The Board also found no link between any current symptoms of these disorders and his military service.

The Board denied the Veteran's application to reopen his claim for service connection for lumbar degenerative joint disease (DJD) as new and material evidence was not submitted.

The Board has determined that the Veteran does not have current hearing loss, lumbar spine disability, migraine headaches, or PTSD to a degree recognized as a disability for VA purposes. The claims are being remanded due to insufficient evidence.

The Board has reopened the claim for service connection for chronic motion sickness and remanded the issues of service connection for a back disability, service connection for chronic motion sickness, and evaluation of bilateral hearing loss.

The Board has restored a 40 percent rating for the Veteran's lumbar strain disability, effective May 1, 2015. The reduction from 40 to 20 percent was improper due to lack of material improvement in the Veteran’s condition.

The Board has remanded the claims of service connection for a back disability, bilateral hearing loss, sinus condition, and anxiety disorder due to incomplete records and lack of verification of military service.

The Board has remanded the cases for further development and examination to determine if the appellant's current back disability and left knee disability are related to his military service, specifically during training periods in July 2009 and November 2009.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hand disability (including trigger finger and carpal tunnel syndrome) and low back disability are being remanded due to the need to obtain additional medical records and conduct further examinations.

The Board denied the Veteran's applications to reopen his claims of service connection for a low back disorder and skin disorder, finding that new and material evidence was not presented in either case.