Back / lumbar spine Board decisions

The Board denied a request for an effective date prior to January 15, 2008 for the award of service connection for lumbar spine disability. The Veteran's claim was granted in June 2008 with an effective date set at that time.

The Board has determined that new and material evidence has been submitted to reopen the Veteran's claims for service connection for thoracolumbar spine, cervical spine, right shoulder, and acquired psychiatric disorders. The claim is granted as her current disabilities are found to be related to her military service.

The Veteran's current varicose veins were found to have originated during his active service. The Board has determined that the criteria for establishing service connection for a low back disability are met, and thus service connection is granted.

The appeal has been withdrawn by the appellant's representative before a decision was made.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's low back disability did not originate in service or until more than one year after discharge, and is not otherwise etiologically related to service. As a result, the claim for service connection for low back disability is denied.

The Board found that the Veteran's degenerative disc disease status post lumbar fusion was not incurred in or aggravated by active service, and denied his claim.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims of entitlement to service connection for vision disorder, low back disorder, asthma, and hypertension. The Board found no evidence of a superimposed disease or injury related to refractive error of the eyes during service, and there is no competent evidence linking any other eye disability to active service. For the low back disorder, the Board noted that arthritis was not shown within one year after discharge from service, and there is no credible evidence of continuity of symptomatology for a low back disorder. Service connection was denied.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for his service-connected traumatic arthritis of the lumbar spine, left shoulder, and right hip have been granted.

The Board finds that the Veteran's unauthorized medical expenses incurred on May 21, 2008 at Memorial Hospital were eligible for reimbursement due to a medical emergency and unavailability of VA facilities.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including obtaining flight physical records and providing an opinion regarding the Veteran's skin conditions.

The Veteran's lumbar spine DJD was granted a 40 percent rating effective March 8, 2016.

The Veteran's claim for an annual clothing allowance is being remanded due to insufficient medical opinion regarding the use of his lumbosacral back brace and its impact on his clothing. Additional evidence, including treatment records from the Dallas VA Medical Center, must be obtained.

The Veteran's PTSD has been granted a 70 percent rating, reflecting significant occupational and social impairment. Depression is considered part of the service-connected PTSD.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient consideration of the Veteran's service as a paratrooper and his history of back pain. The claim will be reconsidered with an updated examination.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claim of service connection for a low back condition due to additional evidence submitted by the Veteran.

The Board has decided to remand the Veteran's claims for further development, including obtaining additional VA treatment records and providing an addendum opinion regarding whether her right hip condition and back condition have been aggravated by her service-connected left hip disability.

The Veteran's increased ratings for his low back disability, right and left lower extremity radiculopathies, and plantar callus and bone spur of the left foot are granted.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, when combined, meet the criteria for a TDIU rating as they preclude obtaining and retaining substantially gainful employment.

The Veteran's low back disability was rated at 40 percent from April 30, 2008 to October 6, 2013 and from February 1, 2014. The Board found that the criteria for a higher rating were not met during this period. However, with reasonable doubt resolved in favor of the Veteran, he was granted an extraschedular TDIU based on his service-connected disabilities.

The Veteran's application for Service-Disabled Veterans Insurance (RH) was denied because his history of colon cancer, which is not considered a service-connected condition, precludes him from being in 'good health' as defined by VA standards.