Back / lumbar spine Board decisions

From January 24, 2006 to September 1, 2008, the Veteran's service-connected disabilities were sufficiently incapacitating as to prevent him from obtaining or maintaining substantially gainful employment.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's back disorder, diagnosed as degenerative disc disease, was incurred during his period of active duty service.

The Board has remanded the case for further development, including obtaining VA treatment records and a VA examination. The Veteran's claim for an increased rating for his lumbar spine disability is also being considered.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's degenerative arthritis of the lumbar spine and tension headaches are not related to his military service. The claims for these conditions have been denied.

The Board has remanded the case for further development due to a need for clarification of the medical opinion and consideration of the correct legal standard regarding aggravation by service.

The Board finds that the Veteran's current back disability is not related to his military service, and thus does not meet the criteria for service connection.

The Board has remanded the case for further development due to a need for clarification on whether the Veteran's current low back disability is aggravated by his service-connected disabilities, including bilateral shoulder impingement disorder.

The Veteran's chronic lumbar strain was granted a 40 percent evaluation effective June 12, 2017. TDIU benefits were also granted from that date.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings were granted, with the effective date being determined by the Court's remand. The Veteran was assigned a rating of 30 percent for right upper radiculopathy from August 24, 2017 onwards.

The Veteran seeks service connection for a lumbar spine herniation at L5-S1, with bilateral lower extremity radiculopathy. The Board has determined that additional development is needed to properly address the issue.

The Board has denied the Veteran's service connection claims for a low back disability, bilateral knee disability, peripheral nervous system disorder, immune system disorders, metabolic digestive disorder (claimed as GERD), diabetes mellitus type II, skin cancer, and birth defects and stillborn baby. The evidence does not support a finding of service connection for any of these conditions.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for additional development due to incomplete examination and treatment records, as well as unclear opinions regarding service connection and increased rating.

The Board has remanded the case for further development due to missing SSA records and a need for a VA examination regarding the Veteran's low back disability. The TDIU claim is also pending as there are recent changes in his PTSD rating.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's lower back and left knee disabilities are etiologically related to his service, including injuries sustained during military vehicle accidents in 1967 and 1968. The vision disability is currently under consideration.

The Board has determined that new and material evidence has been received to reopen the Veteran's claims for service connection for low back, left knee, right leg, cervical spine, and psychiatric disorders. The claim for service connection for a lung disorder is also granted. The Veteran's psychiatric disorder is found to be secondary to his service-connected right knee disability.

The Veteran's service-connected bilateral dry eye syndrome has been rated at 20 percent since the effective date of the award of service connection. The Board finds that a higher rating is not warranted for this disability.

The Board has determined that new and material evidence has been received to reopen the claim of entitlement to service connection for a low back condition. The Veteran's claims for service connection for multiple myeloma, deep vein thrombosis, pulmonary infarct/embolism, and secondary service connection for his low back condition remain pending.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's right knee and low back disorders were not incurred or aggravated by active service, nor are they proximately due to, aggravated by, or the result of a service-connected disability. The claims for service connection have been denied.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's radiculopathy of the bilateral lower extremities is secondary to his service-connected lumbar spine disability, and thus grants service connection for this condition.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's current degenerative changes in his lumbar spine are at least as likely as not related to service, and thus service connection is granted.