Back / lumbar spine Board decisions

The Board has remanded the case due to incomplete records and a need for further examination. The Veteran's low back disorder is being reviewed, but no service connection will be granted at this time as it does not meet the criteria based on the available evidence.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including coronary artery disease and a thoracolumbar spine disability, have rendered him unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation.

The Board has granted service connection for a cervical spine disability, including degenerative disc disease and intervertebral disc syndrome. The appeal regarding an increased rating for the Veteran's lumbar spine disability was withdrawn by the Veteran.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's diagnosed bilateral shoulder and cervical spine disabilities are directly related to his military service, resolving all reasonable doubt in favor of the Veteran.

The Board has granted the Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral knee joint osteoarthritis and lumbosacral strain, finding that these conditions are related to her active military service.

The Board denied service connection for a back disability, right knee osteoarthritis, pes planus, and headaches. The Veteran's current disabilities are not shown to be related to his active duty.

The Board denied the Appellant's claims for service connection for a ruptured ear drum, tinnitus, and disabilities of the neck and low back. The Board found that the Appellant did not meet the criteria for Veteran status for these claims.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for a low back disability is being remanded due to the need for additional development, including obtaining outstanding records and providing her with a new VA examination.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's low back and neck disabilities are not related to his military service, thus denying his claims for service connection.

The Board found no causal connection between the Veteran's in-service lifting injuries and his current lumbar spine disability. For PTSD, there is insufficient evidence to establish a service connection due to lack of credible stressor events.

The Board found that the Veteran's lumbar spine disability warranted a rating of 20 percent since February 19, 2013, based on the criteria for a 20 percent evaluation under the General Rating Formula for Diseases and Injuries of the Spine.

The Board has decided to remand the pension claim for further development, including obtaining VA medical examinations and additional records. The Veteran's physical disabilities include lumbar strain with IVDS, tinnitus, and adjustment disorder.

The Board found no evidence of a current lumbar spine disability or left hip disability, and denied service connection for both conditions. The Veteran's right hand disability was not addressed in the decision.

The Board found that the Veteran's current lumbar spine conditions are not related to service and denied his claim for service connection.

The Veteran's left shoulder tendonitis is currently rated at 10 percent, and the evidence does not support a higher rating.,The Veteran's low back strain was rated as 20 percent prior to May 15, 2017, and 10 percent from that date. The evidence does not support a higher rating.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for PTSD was denied as there is no current diagnosis of PTSD attributable to the verified in-service stressor.,Service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including unspecified schizophrenia and mood disorder, was also denied.

The Board has granted a rating of 70 percent for major depressive disorder, effective from the date of the decision. The Veteran's service-connected MDD is manifested by symptoms including depressed mood, anxiety, chronic sleep impairment, mild memory loss, disturbances of motivation and mood, and difficulty in establishing and maintaining effective relationships.

The Veteran's service-connected degenerative disc disease of the lumbosacral spine is rated at 60 percent, effective September 2, 2014. The scars are rated as 10 percent disabling.

The Veteran's claim for a compensable rating for bilateral hearing loss was denied as his audiometric test results did not meet the criteria for a compensable evaluation.,Service connection for a low back disability was granted, with the Board finding that there is at least equipoise evidence to support the opinion that the current condition is related to service.

The Veteran's claims for bilateral hearing loss, low back disorder, and knee disabilities were denied. The Board found no evidence of in-service aggravation or a service-connected condition that caused the current disabilities.