Back / lumbar spine Board decisions

The Board has remanded the case due to incomplete records and need for further examination. The Veteran's claims of service connection for low back disability and left knee disability are pending.

The Board has determined that a new VA examination is needed to determine the etiology of any diagnosed low back disability, as well as whether it is related to active service. The Veteran's claim will be readjudicated after this additional development.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not render him unable to secure and follow a substantially gainful occupation.

The Veteran's claim of service connection for PTSD was denied as he does not have a diagnosis of PTSD. The Board found that the preponderance of evidence is against his claims of service connection for lumbar spine condition, bilateral knee condition, right shoulder condition, and migraines.

The Veteran's claim of service connection for a back disability is being remanded due to the need for an addendum VA examination and updated treatment records. The examiner will be asked to provide an opinion on whether his current back disability is related to his in-service injury during ACDUTRA in August 1996.

The Board has determined that additional evidence is needed to properly adjudicate the Veteran's claims for service connection for lumbar spine and right hip disabilities. The case is therefore being remanded for further development.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for a low back disorder was previously denied, and new and material evidence has not been submitted. The claims for increased ratings and earlier effective dates were all denied.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's heart disorder is not service-connected, and his low back disability does not meet the criteria for direct service connection.

The Board dismissed the issue of whether the evaluation for the service-connected thoracolumbar spine disability was properly reduced from 40 percent to 20 percent effective from November 1, 2010. The Veteran's low back disability is already at its maximum schedular rating and no higher rating can be assigned.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for shrapnel wounds of the upper back and degenerative arthritis of the lumbar spine were reopened, with the former being granted and the latter denied.,Service connection was established for residuals of shrapnel wounds in the upper back. The Veteran's current diagnosis of degenerative arthritis of the lumbar spine is not considered to be service-connected.

The Veteran's service-connected back conditions (DDD, spondylolisthesis, and spondylosis) have rendered him unable to secure or follow substantially gainful employment.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's back disability does not warrant a higher initial rating in excess of 10 percent, and thus denied his claim for an increased rating. The service-connected left wrist disability was also addressed but is no longer part of the appeal as it was granted service connection.

The Veteran was granted service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus, as these conditions are related to his in-service noise exposure.,Service connection was also granted for residuals of cold injuries to the lower extremities. The Board found that the Veteran's current back disability is not related to service.

The Veteran's claim for an increased rating for his service-connected cervical spine degenerative disc disease is being remanded due to the need for a new VA examination.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not include an undiagnosed illness manifested by joint pain and fatigue, which is the result of disease or injury incurred in or aggravated by active military service.,The criteria for a TDIU based upon service-connected disabilities are not met.

The Board found that the Veteran does not have a current right or left shoulder disability and denied service connection for a cervical spine disorder due to lack of evidence showing chronic symptoms in service, continuity of symptomatology after service, or etiology.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for left ear hearing loss, low back disability, and right ankle disability due to lack of evidence linking these conditions to his active military service.

The Board denied both claims for service connection and an increased rating for the Veteran's lumbar spine disability and shrapnel wound, respectively.

The Veteran's claim for an initial rating in excess of 20 percent for L5-S1 degenerative disc disease was denied by the Board. The criteria for a higher rating were not met as his range of motion did not meet the requirements for a 40% rating, and he did not have incapacitating episodes of intervertebral disc syndrome.

The Veteran's claims for increased evaluation of thoracolumbar strain, service connection for right ankle disability and right foot disability, as well as a disability of the right thumb, hand, and wrist were all granted.