Back / lumbar spine Board decisions

The Veteran is granted special monthly pension based on the need for regular aid and attendance due to his seizure disorder, which requires assistance from others to protect him from daily hazards.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, particularly his cervical spine condition and anxiety and depression, render him unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation. The Board finds that a TDIU is warranted.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for a bilateral knee disorder and a back disorder, finding that there was no evidence of in-service injury or disease. The Board also found that any current disabilities were not proximately due to or aggravated by a service-connected disability.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's low back disorder and acquired psychiatric disorder are related to his service, with resolution of doubt in favor of the Veteran.

The Veteran's appeal has been withdrawn, and the case is dismissed as a result.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded due to his failure to appear for a scheduled hearing. The case will be returned to the Board after appropriate action has been taken.

The Veteran's GERD has been rated at 30 percent since March 15, 2009. The low back disability has not met the criteria for a higher rating than 20 percent.

The Board has ordered a remand to obtain an addendum opinion regarding the etiology of the Veteran's low back disorder and left leg numbness/radiculopathy, which were found to be less likely as not caused by or aggravated by his service-connected right and left knee disabilities. The case is now being returned for further development.

The Veteran is entitled to at least a 20 percent disability rating for the orthopedic manifestations of her service-connected low back disability, with some limitations due to pain and flare-ups. Further development is needed to determine if she is entitled to an even higher rating.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for additional development, including obtaining VA treatment records and scheduling a new examination. The claims will be reconsidered after these actions are completed.

The Veteran's low back disability is rated at 40 percent since December 3, 2013. His associated radicular involvement of the left sciatic nerve is also rated at 40 percent. The Board granted a TDIU based on his service-connected disabilities.

The Board denied service connection for various conditions, including a left wrist disorder, left hip disorder, low back disorder, right arm and wrist disorder, varicose veins, surgical scars of the right leg, right leg disorder, and right knee disorder. The Veteran's claims were not supported by sufficient evidence to establish an in-service injury or disease.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including scheduling a hearing and issuing a statement of the case on increased rating and earlier effective date issues.

The Board has determined that there is no evidence to support the Veteran's claims for bilateral lower extremity disability, thoracic spine disability, and left shoulder disability. The preponderance of the evidence does not show a direct relationship between these conditions and service.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development of his medical records and for a VA examination to assess the severity of his GERD. The case will be readjudicated after these actions.

The Veteran's headache disorder is found to be proximately due to or the result of his service-connected tinnitus. The Board has granted service connection for this condition.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings of his lumbar degenerative disc disease, left knee disability, and right knee disability were denied as the evidence did not meet the criteria for a higher rating under the applicable diagnostic codes.

The Board has determined that additional VAMC records from March 2000 to March 2007 and from August 2008 to the present should be requested, as well as VA medical examination for joints and spine. The Veteran's claims are remanded for these actions.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining VA treatment records and arranging for a VA examination to address the issues of service connection for right shoulder, elbow, upper back, and lower back disabilities.

The Veteran seeks service connection for a cervical spine disability, which he claims is related to an in-service injury. The case is being remanded due to the need for additional records and medical opinions.