Back / lumbar spine Board decisions

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining VA treatment records and scheduling a new VA examination to assess the severity of his service-connected lumbar spine disability.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including obtaining private treatment records and an addendum opinion from a VA examiner.

The Board denied an earlier effective date for the award of service connection for depressive disorder, finding that the claim was filed on June 17, 2011. The Veteran's other issues are being remanded.

The Board has remanded the case due to outstanding treatment records and a need for a VA medical opinion regarding the etiology of the Veteran's low back disability.

The Board has determined that the Veteran does not have a lumbosacral spondylosis or cervical spondylosis disability that is etiologically related to his military service. The evidence shows no indication of such conditions during service and the VA examiner's opinions do not support a finding that these conditions are due to service.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's current thoracolumbar spine disorder is not related to his military service and therefore denied his claim for service connection.

The VA determined that the Veteran's low back disorder is not related to his service, and thus denied his claim for service connection.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities have resulted in the functional loss of use of both feet, qualifying him for financial assistance in acquiring an automobile or adaptive equipment and/or special adaptive housing.

The Veteran's lumbar spine disability was rated at 20 percent prior to October 15, 2012. The appeal for higher ratings is denied as the evidence does not show that his symptoms more nearly approximate a rating in excess of 20 percent.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's current low back and left knee disabilities did not have onset in service or are not related to his active military service, including his service-connected bilateral pes planus and residual cold injury to the bilateral upper and lower extremities. The evidence does not support a finding of secondary service connection.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities did not prevent her from securing and following a substantially gainful occupation based on her education and work experience prior to August 13, 2009.

The Veteran's service-connected low back disability, radiculopathy of the right lower extremity, and radiculopathy of the left lower extremity with left foot traction sural neuritis have been evaluated based on their current manifestations.,Service connection for residuals of a stroke has not been established.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's current low back disability, diagnosed as degenerative joint disease of the lumbar spine with a history of L4-L5-S1 fusion, was incurred in service due to a documented fall injury in March 1979.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for erectile dysfunction is being remanded due to the need for additional development, including obtaining a supplemental medical opinion from a VA examiner. The issue of entitlement to special monthly compensation (SMC) for the loss of use of a creative organ will be deferred until further development of the inextricably intertwined issue is completed.

The case is being remanded due to the need for additional development, including a VA spine examination. The Veteran's claim for higher ratings for his service-connected low back disability will be reconsidered after this.

The Veteran's claims for service connection of left ankle, hip, and low back disabilities are being remanded due to the need for additional development including a VA examination.

The Board has determined that the evidence received since the January 2008 denial is not new and material, thus denying the Veteran's request to reopen his claim of service connection for a low back condition.

The Board has reopened the Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss, low back disability, and tinnitus. However, these claims are being remanded due to outstanding evidence needed to substantiate the claims.

The Board has reopened the Veteran's claim of service connection for a lumbar spine disorder and granted it. The Veteran's bilateral knee degenerative joint disease is found to be related to his period of active duty service.

The Board has determined that a new VA medical opinion is necessary to address the relationship between the Veteran's current lumbosacral spine pathology and associated nerve impairment, and the in-service motorcycle accident in August 1978. The appeal will be remanded for this purpose.