Back / lumbar spine Board decisions

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining VA treatment records and scheduling a new examination to assess the current severity of his lumbar spine and left ankle sprain disabilities.

The Veteran's service-connected lumbar spine disability alone did not render him unemployable as he was able to perform a sedentary job with freedom of movement in an eight-hour workday.

The Board has granted service connection for tinnitus. The Veteran's claims for hypertension, acquired psychiatric disability (insomnia and depression), numbness of bilateral upper arms, headaches, and degenerative joint disease of the lumbar spine prior to August 20, 2009 and after October 31, 2009 are denied.

The Board has determined that the Veteran does not have a back disability related to her active service and therefore denied her claim for service connection.

The Board found that the Veteran's service-connected conditions did not cause or contribute substantially to his death, and thus denied the claim for service connection for the cause of death.

The Veteran's right femur stress fracture residuals are currently rated as 10 percent disabling, and the evidence does not support a higher rating.,Service connection for a low back disability is denied as there is no evidence that it is secondary to service-connected residuals of a right femur stress fracture.

The Board has dismissed the Veteran's appeal for a rating in excess of 40 percent for chronic lumbar strain due to withdrawal by the Veteran's representative. The issue of an effective date earlier than April 1, 2015, for payment of additional compensation for the Veteran's dependent spouse is remanded.

The Board finds that the Veteran's current hip, spine, and knee disabilities are not related to his in-service near-fall injury. The evidence does not support a finding of service connection for these conditions.,The VA examiners found no specific diagnoses for the Veteran's thoracolumbar spine, cervical spine, or bilateral knee disabilities.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's lumbosacral spine degenerative disc disease, spondylosis, and lordosis straightening originated during active service and grants service connection for these conditions.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development due to an error in addressing certain medical evidence and for a new examination.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's back disorder is related to his service-connected right knee disability and grants service connection for this condition.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's current low back disability is not causally or etiologically related to his active service. The evidence does not support a finding of a relationship between the Veteran's low back disability and his period of service.

The Veteran's lumbosacral strain is currently rated at 20 percent, and the Board finds no basis to grant a higher rating. The Veteran's psychiatric disorder claim remains pending as it is unclear whether service connection should be granted.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's claims of service connection for various conditions, including a dorsal spine disability, degenerative lumbar spine disorder, head injury/traumatic brain injury, memory loss, right ear and eye fluttering, acquired psychiatric disorder (to include depression), cervical spine disability, left leg disorder to include genu varum of the knee, pulmonary disability to include asbestosis, generalized arthritis, right leg disorder to include genu varum of the knee, and migraine headaches have been denied. The Board found that there was no evidence showing a direct connection between these conditions and service.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded due to the need for additional examinations and records, particularly regarding his right shoulder disability. The issues of service connection for a back disability and rating for right shoulder impingement syndrome are pending.

The Veteran's claim for service connection of PTSD is reopened, and his headaches are rated at 30 percent. His lumbar degenerative arthrosis and radiculopathy are each rated at 10 percent. The Board finds that the Veteran is unemployable due to his disabilities and grants TDIU on an extraschedular basis.

The Board found no evidence of a back disability or bilateral hearing loss incurred in service, and denied the Veteran's claims for service connection.

The Board has remanded the case for further development, including an addendum VA medical opinion to determine if the Veteran's lumbar spine disability is aggravated by his service-connected left and right knee disabilities.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's current low back disability, including degenerative arthritis of the spine, intervertebral disc syndrome, L4 to L5 spondylolisthesis, spinal stenosis, and scoliosis, is presumed to have been incurred in service.

The Veteran's claim for increased ratings for his back disability is being remanded due to the need for a new VA examination and consideration of recent private treatment records.