Back / lumbar spine Board decisions

The Board has granted service connection for bilateral hand osteoarthritis, right shoulder disability, low back disability, and bilateral patellofemoral syndrome. The Veteran's current diagnoses are considered to be related to his active military service.

The Board denied service connection for a low back disability, finding that the evidence did not support a link between the Veteran's in-service injury and his current condition.

The Veteran's lumbar spine disability is not service-connected as it was not incurred or aggravated by his military service.

The Board denied the Veteran's request for an earlier effective date for his service-connected conditions, finding that he did not submit a claim within one year of his separation from service.

The Board has decided to remand the claim of service connection for a lumbar spine disability due to insufficient evidence and an in-service injury. A VA examination is needed to determine if the Veteran's current condition is related to his military service.

The Board has remanded the claim of service connection for low back strain due to additional development being needed, including an addendum opinion from a VA examiner.

The Board denied service connection for right shoulder, cervical spine, and lumbar spine disabilities due to lack of evidence showing a nexus between the conditions and service.,Service connection was also denied for right hip disability as there is no specific claim or issue listed in the decision.

The Veteran's low back disability was rated at 20 percent prior to January 4, 2014. Since then, the rating has been increased to 40 percent.

The Board finds that remand is warranted to obtain the Veteran's service personnel records and associated treatment records, as these may document his service in Vietnam and contain pertinent information for his claims on appeal.

The Board has reopened the Veteran's claims for service connection for various conditions, but remanded them due to insufficient evidence or further development is needed.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims of service connection for low back disorder, left knee disorder, and right knee disorder due to inadequate medical opinions and incomplete range of motion testing.

The Board has denied service connection for ischemic heart disability and diabetes mellitus, both presumed to be related to herbicide exposure. The claims are remanded for further examination regarding left shoulder, back, cervical spine, bilateral lower extremity neuropathy, and bilateral upper extremity neuropathy.

The Veteran's lumbar spine disability is rated at 10 percent, but a higher rating of 20 percent is granted. The Veteran's benign prostatic hypertrophy remains rated at 20 percent due to lack of evidence supporting a higher rating. The scars post-malignant melanoma removal are not compensable.

The Board has granted service connection for PTSD, but denied all other claims as new and material evidence was not received to reopen the claims.

The Board has denied service connection for a right shoulder disorder and granted service connection for shortening of the right leg. The remaining issues regarding lumbar spine and right hip disorders are remanded.,Service connection is being granted for shortening of the Veteran's right leg due to an in-service fracture, but his claims for other conditions remain pending.

The Veteran's diabetes mellitus type 2 and related conditions, along with his coronary artery disease, qualify him for special monthly compensation based on being housebound.

The petition to reopen the claim for service connection for a low back disability is granted. The reopened claim of entitlement to service connection for a low back disability is remanded.

The Board has granted service connection for lumbar degenerative disc disease with radiculopathy and bilateral pes planus with arthritis, finding that these conditions are at least as likely as not related to the Veteran's military service.

The Board denied service connection for cervical spine, right shoulder, left knee, low back, and left leg disorders as well as an eye disorder. The Veteran's claims were not supported by credible evidence linking these conditions to his military service.,Service connection was also denied for a deviated septum because there is no probative evidence of its occurrence during or immediately after service.

The Board has granted the Veteran's claims for service connection for cervical and lumbar spine disabilities, finding that there is equipoise of evidence in favor of a relationship to service. The effective date remains pending as it was not assigned by the RO.