Back / lumbar spine Board decisions

The Veteran's claims for service connection have been denied. The Board found no evidence of a current diagnosis or in-service event, injury, or disease that would support the claims.

The Board has determined that further development is needed to determine the nature and etiology of the Veteran's back disability, including whether it is related to his service. The case will be remanded for a VA examination.

The Veteran's claims for service connection and increased ratings have been granted. The effective date of service connection for major depressive disorder is set to May 18, 2015.

The Board denied reopening the claim for service connection of degenerative disc disease, status post laminectomy and lumbar strain (previously diagnosed as herniated intervertebral disc) due to lack of new and material evidence. The Veteran's bilateral inguinal hernia and scars were rated at their current levels.

The Board has granted service connection for Schmorl's node, finding that the Veteran's in-service injury likely caused his current condition. Service connection for Degenerative Disc Disease (DDD) was also granted based on a private medical opinion linking it to the Veteran's age and weight rather than service.

The Board has reopened the Veteran's claim for service connection for right hip and leg numbness and pain, now claimed as pain in right side of the body. The preponderance of evidence shows that his current diagnoses are related to service.

The Veteran's claim for an increased rating for his lower back disability is being remanded due to the need for additional VA and private treatment records, as well as a new VA examination.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for a back disorder and bilateral hearing loss, finding that new and material evidence had not been received to reopen his previously denied claims. The Board also found that there was no link between the current disabilities and military service.

The Veteran's vocational goal of obtaining a Licensed Professional Counselor certification is not feasible due to his service-connected back disability and other non-service connected disabilities.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining VA treatment records and scheduling a VA examination to assess the severity of his service-connected lumbar spine disability. The issues on appeal include initial ratings higher than currently assigned for his service-connected lumbosacral strain with degenerative changes, as well as entitlement to a TDIU.

The Veteran's claim for an increased rating of PTSD was not addressed in this decision.,The Veteran's service-connected scar, right lower leg, residuals of an in-service shrapnel wound, is rated at 10 percent and the Veteran disagrees with this rating.

The Board denied service connection for the Veteran's claimed acquired psychiatric disorder, thoracolumbar spine disorder, cervical spine disorder, bilateral shoulder disorder, and bilateral knee disorder. The diagnoses were not related to service.

The Veteran's current degenerative disc and joint disease of the lumbar spine is found to be causally related to his period of active service, and thus he has been granted service connection for this condition.

The Veteran's appeal for service connection of a back condition has been dismissed due to the death of the Veteran.

The Veteran's low back disability was rated at 10 percent prior to February 3, 2009 and has been rated at 10 percent as of February 3, 2009. The claim for a higher rating is denied.

The Veteran's claim for higher initial ratings for his service-connected degenerative disc disease of the lumbosacral spine was denied. The RO assigned a 20 percent rating effective January 4, 2016.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's lumbar spine disorder is related to service, resolving reasonable doubt in his favor.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's right elbow disability, left wrist residuals, and low back disability are not service-connected as they did not manifest in service or are not related to service.

The Veteran's lumbar spine disability, diagnosed as degenerative disc disease, is service connected based on continuity of symptomatology since his active duty service.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's service-connected bilateral pes planus at least as likely as not caused his current back, right and left knee, and right and left ankle disabilities. As a result, these conditions are granted.