Back / lumbar spine Board decisions

The Veteran's appeal was dismissed due to his withdrawal of the appeal for service connection for a left varicocele. The Board found that he had bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus incurred in service.

The Veteran's claim to reopen his pes planus service connection was granted, and the Board found that the evidence raised a reasonable possibility of substantiating his claim. Service connection for pes planus is now granted.,Regarding the low back condition secondary to pes planus, the Board found that the Veteran's low back condition was aggravated by his service-connected pes planus.

The Veteran's cervical spine disability has not been shown to be related to service. The claims for bilateral hip and ankle disabilities have no evidence of current conditions during the appeal period. Service connection is denied.

The Veteran's claims for service connection are being remanded due to the need to obtain additional medical records and provide an addendum to the September 2010 VA examination report.

The Veteran's claims for increased evaluations for his service-connected lumbar degenerative disc disease and bilateral leg sciatica are being remanded due to the need for additional development, including obtaining medical records and scheduling VA examinations.

The Board has remanded the case due to incomplete records and further development is needed before a decision can be made on the Veteran's claim for service connection of his low back disorder.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings and TDIU are being remanded due to the receipt of new evidence, which requires a VA examination. The issues will be reconsidered after the examination.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's lumbosacral strain is etiologically related to active service and grants service connection for this condition.

The Board has granted service connection for DDD of the lumbar spine and arthritis of the sacroiliac joints, finding that the Veteran's current back disability is related to his active service. The appeal regarding higher initial ratings for right hip DJD and left hip DJD remains pending.

The Board has granted service connection for residuals of a pilonidal cyst excision manifested as a scar, but denied service connection for low back disability, tailbone disability, and chronic fatigue syndrome (FDS).

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not preclude him from engaging in substantially gainful employment.

The Veteran's claim for a higher rating for his lumbar spine disability prior to June 13, 2011 was denied. The Board found that the evidence did not meet the criteria for a rating in excess of 10 percent at that time. Beginning June 13, 2011, the Veteran's claim for an increased rating was granted and he is now rated at 40 percent.

The Veteran's gastrointestinal disability is found to be present and compensable, meeting the criteria for service connection as an undiagnosed illness. Service connection is denied for low back and neck disabilities.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not preclude substantially gainful employment, and therefore he is not entitled to a TDIU based on his service-connected conditions.

The Veteran's low back disability was rated at 20 percent prior to January 4, 2006 and restored to 20 percent beginning March 1, 2006.

The Board found no evidence to support the Veteran's claim that his current lower back disorder is related to service, including as due to an undiagnosed illness. The VA examinations and treatment records did not provide sufficient information or a sound basis for concluding that the Veteran's current condition was incurred in or caused by service.

The Veteran's lumbar spine disability is manifested by incapacitating episodes of at least 6 weeks during a 12 month period, and the current rating of 60 percent is appropriate.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not result in loss or loss of use of upper or lower extremities, blindness in both eyes, anatomical loss or loss of use of both hands, deep partial or full thickness or subdermal burns, or residuals of an inhalation injury. Therefore, he is not entitled to specially adapted housing or special home adaptation grant.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development due to a need for clarification and review of the evidence, including the Veteran's statements.