Back / lumbar spine Board decisions

The Veteran's tinnitus began within one year of active military service and is presumed to be related to his service.

The Veteran's low back disability has not manifested as forward flexion of the thoracolumbar spine to 30 degrees or less, and no ankylosis was found. Therefore, his claim for a higher rating is denied.

The Board has reopened the claims for service connection for a back disorder and bilateral foot disorder, finding new evidence that could substantiate these claims. The Veteran is currently diagnosed with arthritis of the thoracolumbar spine and an anxiety disorder related to in-service sexual and racial harassment.

The Veteran's claim for increased rating and TDIU prior to the specified dates was denied as there is no evidence of unfavorable ankylosis or incapacitating episodes, and her service-connected lumbar spine disability did not prevent her from securing or following a substantially gainful occupation.

The Board has determined that service connection is not warranted for residuals of frostbite of the feet, but has granted service connection for tinnitus. The Veteran's low back and psychiatric disabilities are being remanded for further development.

The Veteran's lumbar spine disability is currently rated at 40 percent, and the Board finds no evidence to support a higher rating based on range of motion or incapacitating episodes. The cervical spine disability has been service-connected.

The Board has reopened the claim of entitlement to service connection for an acquired psychiatric disability, including PTSD and depression. The Veteran's acquired psychiatric disability is found to be related to his in-service stressors, and he is granted service connection.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's low back disability and shin splints of the bilateral lower extremities are related to her service, thus granting service connection for both conditions.

The Veteran's lumbar spine condition is currently rated as 10 percent disabling, and her right and left foot disabilities are both rated as non-compensable. The Board finds that the evidence does not support a higher rating for any of these conditions.

The Board has reopened the claim for service connection for a back disability, but the AOJ needs to consider it on the merits due to conflicting medical opinions. The Veteran is also asked to provide any outstanding VA treatment records.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's claimed disabilities are not related to service or service-connected conditions, and thus denied all claims for service connection.

The Veteran's appeals for hypertension, bilateral hearing loss, and a back disability have been dismissed due to his requests to withdraw the appeal.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's current lumbar spine disability, including arthritis and radiculopathy, is related to his in-service injury and finds a continuity of symptoms since service. As such, the claim for service connection is granted.

The Veteran's claim for a higher rating for lumbar strain was received on May 9, 2006. The effective date of the increased rating is March 7, 2011 when the first evidence showed limitation of forward flexion to 30 degrees or less.

The Veteran's initial ratings for posttraumatic headaches and back disability have been granted, but the appeal is pending regarding whether to grant higher initial ratings. The Veteran has not yet received the maximum schedular rating available for his conditions.

The Veteran's claim for an increased rating for his service-connected T11-T12 bulging disc and Schmorl's nodes at L1-T11 herniated nucleus pulpous right thoracolumbar myositis is being remanded due to the need for clarification of whether intervertebral disc syndrome (IVDS) is present, as well as further examination to assess the extent of his disability.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded due to insufficient evidence and the need for a new VA examination. The issues include seeking a higher disability rating for his lumbar spine disorder and service connection for a neurological disorder associated with it.

The Veteran's tinnitus is found to have been incurred during active service, and the claim for this condition is granted. The low back disability is not considered to be related to active service.

The Board found that the Veteran's erectile dysfunction was not incurred in or related to service, including as secondary to his service-connected degenerative joint disease of the thoracolumbar spine. The claim for increased ratings for cervical and thoracolumbar spine disabilities is remanded.

The Board has determined that new and material evidence has been received to reopen the Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss and a back disability. The case is now remanded for additional development, including obtaining VA treatment records from 1989 through the present, scheduling VA examinations, and readjudicating the claims.