Back / lumbar spine Board decisions

The Board has determined that the Veteran's cervical spine disability, including arthritis and degenerative disc disease, is not service-connected as there was no neck injury or disease during service, and chronic symptoms of cervical spine arthritis were not manifested during service. The TDIU claim is granted due to the Veteran's service-connected disabilities preventing him from securing or following a substantially gainful occupation.

The Board has granted service connection for low back degenerative osteoarthritis and found that the Veteran's current diabetes is at least as likely as not related to his service-connected gouty arthritis. The issues of service connection for non-gouty arthritis, higher rating for gouty arthritis, SMC based on need for regular aid and attendance for the spouse, and TDIU are referred back to the AOJ.

The Veteran's appeals are remanded for additional development to address his claims of service connection for various conditions, including Crohn's disease and a lung disorder. The RO must obtain medical records, develop the claim related to Agent Orange exposure allegations, and schedule examinations as requested.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's claimed left hip, right hip, and lumbar spine disabilities are not service-connected as they are not shown to be related to his military service.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's current back disability did not have its onset during active service and is not etiologically related to active service. The claim for a pulmonary condition due to asbestos exposure is also denied.

The Veteran's service-connected spondylolisthesis at L5-S1 with degenerative disc disease at L4-5 status post surgical fusion with retained hardware rendered him unable to secure and follow a substantially gainful occupation prior to December 2, 2009.

The Board granted service connection for herpes simplex (HSV 1&2) effective September 16, 2008.,Service connection was denied for a low back disability and pseudofolliculitis barbae (PFB).

The Board has determined that new and material evidence has been received to reopen the Veteran's claim for service connection for a low back disability. The Board finds that the Veteran's current degenerative disc disease of the lumbar spine is at least as likely as not related to his inservice injury, and thus grants service connection.

The Board has ordered additional development to obtain VA treatment records and ensure all duty to assist requirements have been met. The Veteran's claims for service connection for asthma, lumbar spine disorder, bilateral knee disorders, left leg disorder, and left hip disorder are being remanded.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's current low back disability is not related to his service, and thus denied his claim for service connection.

The Board has remanded the case for further development due to unavailability of inpatient records from Brooke Army Medical Center and Carswell Air Force Base. The Veteran's claim for service connection remains on appeal.

The Board found that the Veteran's low back disability is not related to service and denied his claim.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for increased ratings for his lumbar spine disability and left lower extremity radiculopathy, as well as his claim for SMC based on need for regular aid and attendance or housebound status. The TDIU claim was remanded.

The Veteran's claim for increased ratings for his service-connected arthritis of the lumbar spine is being remanded due to inadequate examination and development needs.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral degenerative joint disease of the knees, hips, and lumbosacral spine as secondary to his service-connected painful heels with degenerative changes.

The Board has granted service connection for lumbosacral strain, migraine headaches, left shoulder strain with glenohumeral joint osteoarthritis, left elbow strain, right elbow strain, left wrist sprain, right wrist sprain, cervical spine strain, left ankle strain, right ankle strain, and left knee strain with arthritis. The Board found that the Veteran's current conditions are at least as likely as not related to his active duty service.,The Board has granted service connection for right knee strain with arthritis. The Board found that the Veteran's current condition is at least as likely as not related to his active duty service.

The Veteran's service-connected lumbar spine disability has resulted in functional impairments necessitating the regular aid and attendance of another person throughout the entire period of the claim, leading to a grant of special monthly compensation on the basis of the need for regular aid and attendance.

The Veteran's claim for increased ratings for his service-connected low back disability was denied. The Board found that the evidence did not support a rating in excess of 20 percent prior to July 1, 2013 and 40 percent as of July 1, 2013.

The Board has determined that there is no evidence to support the Veteran's claims for service connection for a lumbar spine disability and bilateral hearing loss. The weight of the evidence does not establish a nexus between the Veteran's current disabilities and his in-service back sprain or noise exposure, respectively.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities did not render him unable to secure or follow substantially gainful employment prior to August 24, 2011.