Back / lumbar spine Board decisions

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for further development, including obtaining updated VA treatment records and scheduling a VA examination to assess the current severity of his lumbar spine disability.

The Board has remanded the claims due to the need for additional development, including obtaining outstanding medical records and providing a new VA opinion on the etiology of the Veteran's lumbar spine, cervical spine, and headaches disabilities.

The Veteran withdrew his appeals on all issues related to right knee strain, low back disorder, and hypertension.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's low back disorder is related to his active service and has granted service connection for this condition.

The Veteran's claim for a separate compensable disability rating for a bladder impairment associated with his previously service-connected back condition is denied. The Veteran meets the schedular criteria for TDIU based on his service-connected back and acquired psychiatric disorders.

The Board finds that the Veteran's lumbosacral spine degenerative disease is not related to service, and his claims for tremors and excessive sweating are denied as they are not linked to service. The claim for chest pain has been reopened but remains denied.

The Board found that the Veteran's current back disability did not begin in service or is otherwise related to a service-connected condition, and thus denied his claim for service connection.

The Veteran's service connection claims for back disability, eye disability, cervical spine disability and right ankle disability were denied. The claim for headaches was granted as secondary to his service-connected PTSD. His gastritis is currently rated at 10 percent.

The Veteran's degenerative disc disease of the lumbar spine is rated at 40 percent, effective from the date of this decision.

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

The Board has determined that the Veteran's current back disability did not have its onset during active service and was not caused by active service, thus denying his claim for service connection.

The Veteran's thoracolumbar degenerative disc/joint disease is currently rated at 40 percent, which reflects the limitation of motion to 30 degrees or less. The current rating adequately represents any functional impairment attributable to the disability.

The Veteran's service-connected conditions do not render her unable to secure and follow substantially gainful employment.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities have resulted in a need for regular aid and attendance, warranting special monthly compensation. Additionally, the Veteran meets criteria for financial assistance to purchase an automobile with necessary adaptive equipment due to his service-connected right foot disability.

The Board has granted reopening of the claim for service connection for left knee disability and finds that new and material evidence has been received. The Veteran's right knee disability is not considered to have caused or aggravated his current left shoulder condition.

The Board has determined that new and material evidence has been received to reopen the claims for service connection for a back condition, a nervous condition, and high blood pressure. However, the preponderance of the evidence is against finding that these conditions were incurred in or are otherwise related to service.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's low back and neck disorders are related to his military service, thus granting service connection for these conditions.

The Board has determined that new and material evidence has been received to reopen the claim for service connection for a back disability. The Veteran's current diagnosis of lumbar degenerative disc disease (DDD) is related to her active duty service.,For bilateral hearing loss, the Board finds that there is no competent medical evidence showing a nexus between the Veteran's in-service noise exposure and her current right ear hearing loss. Therefore, service connection for bilateral hearing loss cannot be granted.

The Veteran's appeal for special monthly compensation (SMC) based on loss of use of the lower extremities and automobile and adaptive equipment is denied as he does not meet the criteria for these benefits.

The Veteran's appeal has been withdrawn, and the issues of increased ratings for Parkinson's disease and service connection for various knee and spine disorders have been dismissed.