Back / lumbar spine Board decisions

The Veteran is entitled to special monthly compensation by reason of being housebound due to her service-connected depressive disorder and cervical spine disability, as she meets the statutory criteria for a single disability rated at 100% disabling. However, she does not meet the requirement of having additional disabilities independently ratable at 60% or more when combined.

The Board has remanded the case for further development, including verification of service dates and obtaining VA and private treatment records. A supplemental examination is also required to address the Veteran's low back disability and acquired psychiatric disorder.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings are being remanded due to the need for additional development, including obtaining a new VA examination and obtaining recent outpatient treatment records.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for a low back disorder, including degenerative disc disease of the lumbar spine, is being remanded due to the need to obtain additional medical records and provide an updated VA examination.

The Board finds that service-connected bilateral lower extremity venous insufficiency contributed substantially and materially to the Veteran's death, granting entitlement to service connection for the cause of his death.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's current low back disability, diagnosed as lumbar strain and herniated disc, is related to an inservice motor vehicle accident. The claim for service connection is granted.

The Board has remanded the case for further development, including verifying overpayment and copayment amounts, and considering whether the Veteran's income was reduced due to these factors. The claim will be reconsidered based on this additional information.

The Veteran's claim for an increased rating for a lumbar spine disability is being remanded due to the need for additional development, including another VA examination.

The Veteran's claim for a higher rating for his spinal stenosis of the lumbar spine, effective November 1, 2007, was denied. The issue regarding separate disability ratings for urinary hesitancy and nocturia as neurologic residuals of service-connected spinal stenosis prior to September 7, 2007, was also denied.

The Veteran withdrew her appeals for sleep apnea, hypertension, and a chronic disability of the lumbosacral spine before the Board could make a decision.

The Board found that the Veteran's scoliosis preexisting her military service was not aggravated by service, and any degenerative changes in her thoracolumbar spine are related to natural progression of age rather than service.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for a low back disability, finding that her current lumbar spine condition was not incurred in or aggravated by active service.

The Board granted an initial increased rating of 70 percent for PTSD, effective May 14, 2010. Effective November 8, 2011, the Veteran is entitled to a TDIU due to service-connected disabilities.

The Board has decided to remand the case for additional development, including obtaining missing personnel records and providing etiology opinions regarding the Veteran's low back disability.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for heart disorder, arthritis of neck and right wrist, back disorder, left ear disorder, and right ear disorder were denied. The Board found that the evidence did not support a finding of direct service connection for these conditions.

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

The Board has remanded the claims for additional development due to outstanding VA treatment records and inadequate medical opinions regarding service connection for various conditions.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for a lumbar spine disability, which is claimed as secondary to his service-connected cluster migraine headaches, has been remanded due to the need for additional development of evidence and an opinion regarding the etiology of the lumbar spine disability.

The Board has determined that the Veteran does not have a current bilateral hearing loss disability and there is no evidence of such during service. The VA examination did not reflect hearing loss as defined by VA regulations, but a March 2014 private audiogram showed bilateral hearing loss. However, this private audiogram was uninterpreted and the Board finds that the VA examinations are more persuasive. There is insufficient evidence linking the Veteran's current hearing loss to service.

The Veteran's service-connected lumbar spine disability and left lower extremity radiculopathy provide a greater benefit than nonservice-connected pension, so the claim for NSC pension benefits is dismissed.