Back / lumbar spine Board decisions

The Board has determined that the Veteran's claims for service connection for a back disorder, bowel disorder, right eye disorder, deviated septum, skin disorder, tinnitus, right ankle disorder, and right knee disorder have been denied. The evidence does not support a finding of in-service injury or disease resulting in these conditions.

The Veteran's claim for an increased evaluation for her bilateral knee disability was granted. However, she is not entitled to service connection for a low back disability as there is no current diagnosis and the evidence does not support a finding that such a condition is related to her service-connected bilateral knee strain.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim of service connection for thoracolumbar spine disabilities in March 2010. The new evidence received since that decision is considered duplicative and does not raise a reasonable possibility of substantiating the claim.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for degenerative bone disease, lung disorder (granulomata of the lungs with COPD), hypertension, heart disorder, headaches, depression as secondary to other medical conditions, flat feet, low back disorder, and bilateral leg disorder. The evidence does not support a finding that these conditions are related to service or any in-service exposure.

The Veteran's lumbosacral strain was not rated higher than 10 percent from December 3, 2012 to December 4, 2013.,Effective December 5, 2013, the Veteran's lumbosacral strain warranted a 20 percent rating.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's current low back disability is etiologically related to his active service and grants service connection for this condition.

The Veteran's claim for an increased rating for her service-connected degenerative disc disease of the thoracolumbar spine is being remanded due to a lack of recent VA examination and treatment records, as well as potential changes in disability severity.

The Board has determined that new and material evidence has been submitted to reopen the claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, and a lower back disability. The claim for an increased evaluation of PTSD is also remanded due to the Veteran's testimony indicating worsening symptoms.

The Veteran has withdrawn his appeals for the issues of entitlement to a disability rating in excess of 40 percent for DDD of the lumbar spine and entitlement to a disability rating in excess of 20 percent for diabetes mellitus, type II.

The Board found that the Veteran's hepatitis B was not incurred during service and is not related to his military service. The remaining issues of service connection for knee meniscal tears, disc disease with chronic low back pain, sleep apnea, and shoulder rotator cuff tears were denied as well.

The Board has determined that additional development is needed to clarify the nature and etiology of the Veteran's claimed disabilities, including seeking VA medical records and private treatment records. The Veteran will also be provided an examination to evaluate his low back, bilateral legs, and right hip conditions.

The Veteran's GERD has been manifested by persistently recurrent epigastric distress with dysphagia, pyrosis, and regurgitation, accompanied by substernal arm or shoulder pain, productive of considerable impairment of health. The Board finds that a higher initial 30 percent rating is warranted for GERD.

The Board has decided to remand the case for additional development, including a new VA examination of the Veteran's lumbar spine disability.

The Board denied the appellant's claims for service connection for various conditions, finding that the character of his discharge barred him from receiving VA benefits other than health care under Chapter 17. The appeal was not about service connection at all.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for a lumbar spine disability, left shoulder and hip disabilities, and an initial evaluation in excess of 50 percent for service-connected depressive disorder were denied. The Board found that the evidence did not support service connection for these conditions.

The Board has granted service connection for a low back disability and a right lower extremity disability, including as secondary to the low back disability.

The Board has dismissed the appeal due to a withdrawal request from the appellant's authorized representative.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development due to outstanding VA records and incomplete information from the Veteran.

The Veteran's cervical spine disorder is not service-connected, and his lumbosacral strain with post-surgical laminectomy and total spinal fusion from L2 to S1 currently rated at 60 percent.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for a bilateral knee disorder, low back disorder, and bilateral hearing loss. The TDIU claim was withdrawn prior to decision.