Back / lumbar spine Board decisions

The Board has determined that new and material evidence has been received sufficient to reopen the claim of service connection for a low back disability. The Veteran's DDD at the L5-S1 level is found to be etiologically related to his active service, and reasonable doubt is resolved in favor of the Veteran.

The Board has determined that the appellant is eligible to be considered for veteran status and thus basic eligibility for VA benefits. The claim of service connection for a low back disability will be remanded for further development on the merits.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for further development of his claims, including obtaining relevant medical records and attempting to locate a specific VA form from 1992.

The Veteran's claim of service connection for lumbar degenerative disc disease was denied in 1976. He filed a new claim to reopen the previously denied claim in July 2011, which resulted in an effective date of July 5, 2011. The Board found that he is not entitled to an earlier effective date.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities combine to render him unable to secure or follow substantially gainful employment, and his TDIU claim is granted from January 12, 2010.

The Board denied service connection for a thoracolumbar spine disorder, finding that the Veteran's current diagnoses are not causally related to active service or secondary to his service-connected right knee disability.

The Board has remanded the case for further development, including a VA examination to assess the Veteran's employability due to his service-connected disabilities. The claim will be readjudicated based on this additional evidence.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's service-connected disabilities alone or in combination have resulted in loss of use of one lower extremity (left) together with residuals of organic disease or injury which so affect the functions of balance or propulsion as to preclude locomotion without the aid of braces, crutches, canes or a wheelchair. Therefore, she is eligible for financial assistance in acquiring an automobile and adaptive equipment.

The Veteran's claims for service connection and increased ratings were denied. The Board found that the left foot neuropathy was not present until multiple years after service, and is not otherwise related to service. For the knees and back, the criteria for higher ratings have not been met.

The Veteran's nonservice-connected disabilities do not meet the criteria for entitlement to nonservice-connected pension benefits as they are not productive of total disability and he is not permanently and totally disabled due to nonservice-connected disabilities.

The Board finds that the appellant's back disability, including a lipomatous mass and residuals of anal fistula removal, was not incurred in or aggravated by active duty military service.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including obtaining a new VA opinion regarding whether the Veteran's lumbar spine disability is caused or aggravated by his service-connected bilateral residuals of frostbite of the feet.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for various conditions, including diabetes, heart disability, right knee and back disabilities, neck disability, psychiatric disability, and low energy, have been denied.,A compensable rating of 10 percent has been granted for hypertension.

The Board has found the issue of entitlement to a TDIU had been reasonably raised by the record and should be adjudicated as part of the claim on appeal. The Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not meet the schedular criteria for a TDIU, but based on the evidence of record, the Board concludes that the facts of this case meet the criteria for submission to VA's Director of Compensation Service for consideration of entitlement to a TDIU on an extraschedular basis.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities prevented him from engaging in substantially gainful employment as of June 16, 2011.

The Veteran's low back disability, characterized by forward flexion limited to 60 degrees with pain and no ankylosis or other severe symptoms, does not meet the criteria for a higher evaluation.

The Board has ordered a new examination to determine if the Veteran's cervical spine, lumbar spine, right hip and right knee disabilities are related to his service. The case is being remanded for this purpose.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for increased ratings for his low back disability and radiculopathy of the left lower extremity, finding that the evidence did not meet the criteria for higher ratings under the applicable rating schedule.

The Veteran's claims for type 2 diabetes mellitus and lumbar spine disability were denied as there is no competent evidence linking these conditions to his service.

The Veteran's back disability is caused by his service-connected right knee disability.,The Veteran's liver disorder may be secondary to Ibuprofen use for pain management or Agent Orange exposure.