Back / lumbar spine Board decisions

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including obtaining VA treatment records and scheduling a VA examination to determine the etiology of the Veteran's claimed conditions.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's right leg lengthening, pelvic pain, and low back disability are not service-connected as they are either congenital in nature or secondary to his service-connected kidney injury.

The Board has granted service connection for a cervical spine disorder and a TDIU since June 20, 2011. The Veteran's right shoulder disability is considered the primary cause of his current cervical spine disorder.

The Veteran is granted a 20 percent rating for her service-connected cervical spine disability with radiculopathy of the arms, effective from October 10, 2008. She is also granted TDIU based on her service-connected disabilities.

The Board has reopened the Veteran's claims for service connection for a respiratory disorder, right elbow injury residuals, and back disability. The claim of service connection for a respiratory disorder is granted as it relates to in-service treatment and overlaps with both asthma and bronchitis. Service connection for the right elbow injury and back disability are also granted based on evidence showing continuity of symptoms since service.

The Board has granted service connection for the Veteran's low back disability and found that it is related to his active duty service. The Veteran's TDIU claim remains pending as the RO has not yet assigned an extraschedular rating.

The Veteran's appeal for a higher rating for intervertebral disc syndrome with lumbosacral strain with spondylolisthesis was withdrawn, and the Board dismissed the appeal due to this withdrawal.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for further development, including additional examinations and opinions to address the severity of his service-connected psychiatric and muscle disabilities, as well as claims for service connection for lumbar spine, cervical spine, hip, knee, or ankle disabilities.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for degenerative disc disease of the lumbar spine is being remanded due to inadequate VA examination and incomplete medical records.

The Board finds that the Veteran's lumbosacral strain was incurred during active duty service and grants her claim for service connection.

The Veteran's service connection claims for a back disability, bilateral hearing loss, and tinnitus have been granted. The decision found that the Veteran's current tinnitus had its onset during active duty due to noise exposure in combat.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded due to the need for new VA examinations and consideration of a TDIU claim. The current rating for lumbosacral strain needs to be reassessed, and the TDIU request must await resolution of the lumbosacral strain issue.

The Board has determined that further development is necessary before the appeal can be decided, including obtaining VA treatment records and providing an addendum opinion regarding the Veteran's service connection claims.

The Veteran's death was not caused by his service-connected disabilities, and the Board finds that these conditions did not contribute substantially or materially to cause the Veteran's death. The independent medical opinion concluded that the service-connected disabilities did not cause or contribute to the Veteran's death.

The Veteran's TDIU claim was granted effective December 29, 1995. The combined disability rating for his service-connected disabilities is 70 percent.

The appellant withdrew his appeal for attorney fees based on increased evaluation of arthritis of the lumbosacral spine.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's low back and neck disabilities are not related to her service, including her service-connected left and right central band plantar fascia tears. The evidence does not support a finding of service connection for these conditions.

The Board has determined that the Veteran does not have a current diagnosis of left ankle or low back disorder, and therefore cannot establish service connection for these conditions.

The Board dismissed the Veteran's appeal of his claim for an increased disability rating for lumbosacral strain due to withdrawal by the appellant. The issue of entitlement to service connection for a skin disorder of the scalp was remanded.

The Veteran's cervical spine disability is rated at 40 percent, with a separate rating of 10 percent for neurological symptoms. The right shoulder disability was initially denied but later granted as 30 percent disabling effective October 27, 2009. The left leg disability remains at 20 percent.