Back / lumbar spine Board decisions

The Board found that the Veteran's back disorder was not incurred in or aggravated by service, and denied his claim.

The Board has determined that the Veteran does not have current cervical or thoracolumbar spine disabilities, and therefore service connection for these conditions cannot be granted.

The Veteran's lumbar spine, cervical spine, and bilateral knee disorders are not deemed to be the result of VA carelessness, negligence, or lack of proper skill. The Board finds that the additional disabilities were not caused by VA.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's low back strain and bilateral knee strain are related to service, granting service connection for these conditions.

The Board has remanded the claims for additional development due to inadequate medical opinions and incomplete VA treatment records.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for TDIU as a result of service-connected disabilities.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's service-connected pes planus aggravated his back disability, allowing for service connection on a secondary basis.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's claimed disabilities are not related to his military service and have denied all of his claims.

The Veteran's service connection claims for various conditions, including low back disability, bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, skin disorder (due to exposure to Agent Orange), acute myositis of the quadriceps, peripheral neuropathy, heart disorder, hemorrhage of blood vessels in the brain, cerebral vascular accident/TIA, and bilateral eye disorder have been denied. The Board found that these conditions were not incurred or aggravated by service.

The Veteran withdrew his appeal for an initial evaluation in excess of 10 percent for degenerative disc disease of the lumbar spine.

The Board found that the Veteran does not have a right leg disorder separate and distinct from his service-connected right knee disorder. The hip and shoulder disorders were also not shown to be related to service or secondary to the service-connected right knee disorder.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim of entitlement to service connection for low back disability, finding that the evidence did not support a link between his current condition and events in service.

The Board has granted service connection for residuals of a right thumb laceration and remanded the remaining issues due to new evidence received since the last decision. The Veteran's claim for bilateral shoulder disorder, neck/upper back disorder, lower back disorder, and bilateral knee disorders is still pending.

The Board has reopened the Veteran's claims for service connection for a back disorder, joint pain disorder, reaction to an anthrax shot, migraine headaches (secondary to PTSD), chronic fatigue, sleep apnea, lumbar spine degenerative joint disease, right knee degenerative changes, and fibromyalgia. The evidence is at least in equipoise as to whether these conditions are related to service.

The Board has determined that additional development is needed in order to make a determination on the Veteran's claims for service connection for his back disability and bilateral lower extremity disabilities.

The Board has decided to remand the case for additional development, including obtaining medical records and providing a new VA examination.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities have rendered him unemployable, effective from August 7, 2000.

The Veteran's claim for an initial compensable rating for bilateral hearing loss was denied as his current level of disability does not meet the criteria for a higher rating.,Service connection for an upper and lower back condition was also denied, with no evidence showing such conditions during service or at present. The eye condition claim was granted on a secondary basis to diabetes mellitus, hypertension, and coronary artery disease (CAD).

The Board found that the Veteran's lumbar spine disability was aggravated by his participation in a military firearms training course, resulting in increased symptoms and requiring surgical intervention.

The Veteran's claim for an increased rating for chronic low back strain with spasm is pending.,New and material evidence has been received to reopen the previously denied claim of entitlement to service connection for sleep apnea, which is now granted.