Back / lumbar spine Board decisions

The Veteran's claim of service connection for a lower back disorder was reopened and denied in January 2007. The claim was reopened again on June 16, 2010 with the submission of new evidence showing degenerative joint disease of the lumbar spine.,Service connection for pseudofolliculitis barbae (PFB) was granted with a 10% evaluation effective March 12, 2013. The Veteran's claim for an earlier effective date is denied.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for residuals of a fractured jaw, including limitation of jaw function (other than residuals of fracture of left zygomatic arch; with a patch of hypesthesia on the left cheek) was granted. The other claims were not addressed in detail.

The Veteran's appeal for increased evaluations on multiple service-connected disabilities has been withdrawn by the Veteran, and he is currently assigned a noncompensable evaluation for bilateral hearing loss.

The Veteran's claims for higher ratings for migraines, low back, and neck disabilities are being remanded due to the need for additional VA examinations and updated treatment records.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining updated VA and private treatment records and scheduling a VA examination.

The Board has granted the Veteran's claim for service connection for a low back disability, finding that his current condition is likely related to active service. The issue of service connection for pes planus remains pending and will be remanded.

The Board has remanded the case due to incomplete service records and the need for a VA examination to determine if the low back disorder is related to military service.

The Board has determined that the Veteran does not have a current disability for which service connection can be granted, and therefore denied all claims on appeal.

The Board has remanded the case for further development and consideration of issues including service connection for various conditions, reopening of claims, and examination.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's current low back and left hip disabilities are not related to his active service, including a reported fall and lumbar puncture during service. The claims for service connection for these conditions have been denied.

The Board has denied the claims for service connection for bronchial asthma, back disorder, plantar wart of the right foot, hypertension, heart disorder, and tinnitus due to a finding that the character of discharge barred VA benefits. The remaining issues are being remanded.

The Board has remanded the claims for additional development due to non-delivery of supplemental statements of the case and new VA treatment records added since the last issuance.

The Board has granted service connection for the Veteran's low back disability, finding that it is related to his military service.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for his service-connected disabilities have been denied. The VA has not provided a rating in excess of the current assigned disability ratings.,The Veteran's thoracolumbar spine, left ankle, right knee with degenerative changes, and left knee conditions do not meet or approximate criteria warranting a higher rating.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for hepatitis C, rash on penis (claimed as genital herpes), circumcision of phimosis due to venereal warts, penis, osteophytes in the lumbar spine, depression, and PTSD.

The Veteran has withdrawn his appeals for the ratings in excess of 10 percent for right knee patellofemoral pain syndrome and for status post lumbar laminectomy and discectomy of L5-S1 with chronic pain syndrome and right leg radiculopathy, excluding periods of temporary 100 percent ratings.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's service-connected conditions do not warrant a compensable evaluation, and his claims for other conditions are denied.

The Veteran's claim for an initial rating in excess of 40 percent for L5-S1 degenerative disc disease is being remanded due to the need for updated VA treatment records and a new VA examination.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining updated examination reports and an addendum opinion regarding his service-connected left knee disabilities and their relationship to his right knee and low back conditions.

The Board has granted a 60 percent rating for the Veteran's lumbar spine injury prior to December 29, 2010 and denied any higher ratings thereafter. The TDIU claim is also granted.