Back / lumbar spine Board decisions

The Veteran's claim for reentrance into an independent living services program, including the purchase of a massage chair, desktop computer, desk, and recumbent exercise bicycle was denied as his conditions did not warrant such benefits.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for a chronic low back disability and asbestosis, finding no evidence of current disabilities or in-service incurrence.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for low back disability and peripheral neuropathy, as well as his claim for a compensable evaluation for bilateral hearing loss. The decision found that the currently assigned noncompensable evaluations were appropriate based on the audiometric findings.

The Board has remanded the case for further development due to insufficient rationale in a previous VA examiner's opinion and the need to obtain updated treatment records.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's current thoracolumbar spine disorder is not related to service and therefore denied his claim for service connection. The TDIU issue remains pending.

The Board found that the evidence did not support a finding of service connection for a bilateral foot disability or low back disability, as there was no credible evidence linking these conditions to service.

The Veteran's current back disability was not incurred in or aggravated by active military service, and the Board finds that there is no causal relationship between his claimed injury during service and his current condition.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including obtaining VA medical records from before 2001 and any relevant treatment at a Los Angeles County hospital. The Veteran's claims for service connection will be reconsidered based on this new evidence.

The Board has granted service connection for obstructive sleep apnea, a bilateral foot disorder (including plantar fasciitis and pes planus), and a back disorder. The Veteran's claims for an earlier effective date for the right shoulder disability are remanded.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for a low back condition has been reopened and is now pending before the Board.,Her claim for service connection for psychiatric disability (claimed as depression) has also been reopened. The Board finds that she has PTSD related to her service.

The Board has reopened the Veteran's claim of service connection for discogenic disease, L5-S1 and granted service connection. The Veteran's cervical spine disability is not service connected. Service connection was also granted for lumbosacral strain with degenerative changes, intervertebral disc syndrome (IVDS) L3-4 and erectile dysfunction. Increased ratings were assigned for bladder dysfunction and impairment of sphincter control. Effective dates prior to November 22, 2010 were established for TDIU and DEA benefits.

The Veteran's DJD/DDD of the lumbar spine resulted in forward flexion limited to 35 degrees, extension limited to 5 degrees, and trunk sidebending limited to 10 degrees. These findings do not meet the criteria for a schedular rating in excess of 20 percent.

The Board has reopened the claim for service connection for residuals, low back injury and finds that new and material evidence has been submitted. The claim is now reviewed on its merits.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for minimal degenerative disc and joint disease at the L5-S1 level, patellar spurring of the left knee, and patellar spurring of the right knee as there is no evidence linking these conditions to his active service.

The Veteran's thoracolumbar strain disability was manifested by a functional loss due to pain that more nearly resembled forward flexion of the thoracolumbar spine of 30 degrees or less, effective June 12, 2010.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for a back disability is being remanded due to the failure to appear at his scheduled hearing. The RO will attempt to locate him and reschedule the videoconference hearing.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including new VA examinations and requests for Social Security Administration records.

The Veteran's lumbar spine disability has been rated at 20 percent since October 22, 2015. The rating is for radiculopathy of the left lower extremity associated with residuals of a compression fracture to the lumbar spine.

The Board has determined that new and material evidence has been received to reopen the Veteran's claim of service connection for a low back disability. The matter is therefore reopened, but the claim remains denied as there is no credible evidence linking the current low back disability to service.

The Veteran's claims of service connection for variously diagnosed psychiatric disabilities, low back disability, hypertension and tinnitus are being remanded due to the need for additional development. The case is inextricably intertwined with the reopening of a claim of service connection for a psychiatric disability.