Back / lumbar spine Board decisions

The Board has reopened the Veteran's claim for service connection for DJD of the lumbar spine and granted it. The remaining issues regarding secondary service connection and temporary total evaluation are pending further development.

The Veteran's low back disability, diagnosed as osteoarthritis of the spine, is granted. The Veteran does not have current diagnoses for a left wrist disability, right wrist disability, or right foot disability.

The Board has remanded the case due to the need for additional examinations and opinions regarding the Veteran's right knee disorder and low back disorder, as well as other issues on appeal.

The Board has granted service connection for the Veteran's low back disability, residuals of TBI, and benign paroxysmal positional vertigo (BPV), but denied service connection for hepatitis C. The effective date for the grant of service connection for tinnitus is October 31, 2009.

The Board found that the Veteran's dysthymia and lumbar strain did not warrant ratings in excess of 70 percent and 40 percent, respectively. The appeal was denied.

The Veteran's lumbar spine disability is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining VA and private treatment records and a VA examination to determine the nature and etiology of his disability.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded due to the need for additional examinations and consideration of newly submitted evidence. The claims will be reconsidered after all necessary development has been completed.

The Veteran's appeal of the issue of entitlement to TDIU has been dismissed as he requested withdrawal prior to the Board's decision.

The Veteran's degenerative disc disease of the lumbar spine is currently rated as 40 percent disabling effective July 27, 2016. Prior to this date, a higher rating was not warranted.,For his TBI with post-concussive headaches, a separate 30 percent evaluation for migraines prior to July 27, 2016 is granted and no higher since then.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims of service connection for low back condition, hair loss, insomnia, erectile dysfunction, hypertension, and psychiatric disorder. The decision found that there was no evidence of a nexus between these conditions and his military service.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's claims for service connection and increased rating for PTSD are denied as there is no factual basis to award an earlier effective date prior to October 12, 2011.

The Board has reopened the claim for service connection for a lower back disorder but denied the claim as there is no evidence linking the current condition to military service.

The Board has reopened the claim for service connection for lumbar disc disease and finds that new and material evidence has been received. The Veteran contends his current lumbar disc disease is related to an in-service fall, but the VA examiner opined it was not due to or related to service.

The Board has granted service connection for a low back disorder, finding that the Veteran incurred such during active duty. The hearing loss issue is remanded and will be considered in conjunction with the TDIU issue.

The Veteran's service-connected back scars are painful and warrant a 10 percent rating under DC 7804. The low back disability is also rated at 10 percent, but the TDIU claim remains pending.

The Veteran claims service connection for a lower back disorder, which he alleges is related to an injury sustained during his military service. The Board has determined that additional development is needed before the claim can be decided.

The Veteran's appeal is denied as her claims for service connection and increased ratings are not supported by the evidence of record. The Board finds that she does not have a current hearing loss disability, and her lumbar spine disability has not met the criteria for higher ratings at any point during the period of her appeal.

The Veteran withdrew his appeal with respect to all issues pending before the Board, including those related to traumatic brain injury, PTSD, low back strain, patellofemoral pain syndrome of the right knee, scars of the scalp and face, tinnitus, left ear hearing loss, post-traumatic headaches, and residuals of a left elbow contusion.

The Board has reopened the Veteran's claim for service connection for a back injury due to new and material evidence. However, it was not shown that his current back condition is related to his military service.

The Veteran's left and right knee disabilities are service-connected, with the latter being granted based on in-service combat injuries. The bilateral foot disability is not yet rated.,Service connection for neck and back disabilities remains pending as there are no diagnoses provided by the May 2012 VA examination.