Back / lumbar spine Board decisions

The Board has determined that additional development is needed to properly adjudicate the veteran's claims, including obtaining a VA examination and reviewing new evidence.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's claims for increased ratings for his herniated lumbosacral spine condition, cervical spine arthritis, and left shoulder arthritis have been denied as there is no evidence of ankylosis or incapacitating episodes meeting the criteria for higher ratings under the applicable rating schedule.

The Veteran's liver cyst, low back disability, left lower chest nodule, stomach disability and allergies were not found to be related to service.

The Veteran's claims for increased evaluations and service connection have been denied. The Board has reopened the claim of service connection for a cervical spine disorder, which is now pending.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded due to the need for a new VA examination and consideration of his TDIU claim.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's low back disorder was not incurred in or aggravated by active service and is not related to any occurrence or event therein. The claim for service connection is denied.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss, higher initial rating for PTSD and lumbosacral spine disability, as well as his claims for left knee and right knee disabilities. The appeal is not about service connection at all.

The Veteran's claim for service connection of multiple disabilities was denied, and the appellant did not establish eligibility to accrued benefits due to lack of evidence of expenses related to last sickness or burial.

The Veteran's lumbar strain with degenerative disc disease and associated radiculopathy of the lower extremities have been rated based on their orthopedic manifestations, resulting in a 20 percent evaluation for each condition.

The Veteran's degenerative joint disease of the lumbar spine with IVDS was found to warrant a rating in excess of 40 percent from July 29, 2014.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for arthritis of the lumbar spine as new and material evidence was not received. The lung disability claim was also denied, with no indication that it is related to military service or exposure to contaminated water at Camp Lejeune.

The Board has granted service connection for the Veteran's left ankle, knee, shoulder (left and right), and low back disorders as secondary to his service-connected right ankle and right knee disorders.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including degenerative disc disease of the lumbosacral spine and radiculopathies of both lower extremities, result from a common etiology. The Veteran is unable to maintain substantially gainful employment due to his service-connected disabilities.

The Veteran's service-connected posttraumatic stress disorder and low back strain alone do not prevent her from securing and maintaining substantially gainful employment.

The Veteran withdrew his appeals for service connection of low back and left ankle disabilities during the Board hearing, thus dismissing the appeal.

The Board has determined that new and material evidence has been received to reopen the claim of service connection for a low back disorder. The Veteran's neuropathy of the right lower extremity is found to be secondary to his now service-connected low back disability.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's low back disability with right lower extremity radiculopathy and neck disability are service connected. The issues of reopening the claim for a low back disability and granting service connection for a neck disability have been resolved in favor of the Veteran.

The Board has reopened the Veteran's claim for service connection and finds that there is sufficient evidence to establish a nexus between his current back disability and his military service. The Veteran's claim is therefore granted.

The Veteran's lumbar spine disability has been rated at 20 percent since August 2005. The Board finds that a higher rating of 40 percent is warranted for the entire period on appeal due to limited range of motion and pain.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not render him unemployable, as he has been successfully working during the appeal period and chooses to work part-time.