Back / lumbar spine Board decisions

The Board has remanded the case due to incomplete records and an inadequate VA examination. The Veteran's claim for service connection for a back disability is being reviewed again with new evidence and medical opinion.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's back disability is not related to service or a service-connected condition, and thus denied his claim for service connection.

The Board has determined that the Veteran has abandoned his claim due to his failure to provide necessary authorizations for VA to obtain records pertinent to his low back disability, including those from an on-the-job injury in February 2010. As a result, the appeal is dismissed.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including an addendum opinion from a VA examiner to address the Veteran's claims of service connection for back and left knee disabilities. The right knee disability rating issue is also being remanded.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's low back and bilateral knee disabilities are not service-connected as they are not shown to have been incurred or aggravated during his active duty service.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim to reopen his service connection for a low back disability, finding that new and material evidence had not been received. The VA examinations provided did not establish a causal relationship between the Veteran's current low back disability and his active service.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for his low back and right knee disabilities have been remanded by the Board due to additional development being required.

The Board found that the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are not related to his service, but determined that new evidence supports reopening of his claim for mid-back disability. The clothing allowance claim was denied as there is no indication that the Veteran uses a prosthetic or orthopedic appliance due to any service-connected condition.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's current low back disability, including arthritis, is related to his military service and grants entitlement to service connection for this condition.

The appellant's active service was less than 90 days and he was discharged due to not meeting the procurement medical fitness standards. Therefore, he is not eligible for VA home loan guaranty benefits.

The Veteran's claim for increased ratings for his lumbosacral strain with wedging of the thoracic vertebrae is being remanded due to inadequate examination and development needs.

The Board found no current diagnoses for the claimed left thigh, left shoulder, right elbow, low back, and neck conditions. The VA examinations and medical records did not support a connection between these conditions and service.

The Board has reopened the claim of service connection for lumbago and granted service connection for a low back condition, finding that the evidence is at least in equipoise as to whether the Veteran's current disability is related to his military service.

The Veteran's claims for service connection are being remanded due to the need to obtain additional medical records and schedule him for VA examinations.

The Board has granted reopening of the Veteran's claim for entitlement to service connection for a back injury now claimed as low back pain. The appeal is allowed with respect to this issue.

The Veteran's diabetes mellitus is found to have had its onset in service, and the Board grants service connection for this condition. The ratings for his back and neck disabilities are remanded.

The Veteran is granted a rating of 20 percent for degenerative changes of the lumbar spine from July 29, 2011 to March 25, 2016. He also has separate evaluations for lower extremity radiculopathy.

The Board has determined that the VA medical opinions are not of probative value and additional evidence is needed to determine if the Veteran's conditions are related to her active duty service.

The Board found that the Veteran's lumbar spine condition is not service-connected and denied both his claim for service connection and his TDIU claim.

The Board found that the Veteran's current low back disability did not manifest within one year of service separation and is less likely related to his military service, thus denying service connection.