Back / lumbar spine Board decisions

The Veteran's left knee instability and lumbar spine DJD are currently rated at 20 percent, with no additional ratings for the conditions.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for right knee osteoarthritis and degenerative meniscal tear, finding that there was no evidence of a nexus between the disability and service or service-connected left knee disorder. The back condition issue remains pending.

The Board has decided to remand the case for further development, including a new VA examination and readjudication of the claim.

The Board has granted the Veteran's claim of reopening his service connection for a lumbar spine disability and has determined that it is at least as likely as not that his current lumbar spine disability was incurred in active military service. The issue of service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder remains pending.

The Veteran's appeal has been remanded due to scheduling issues for a video conference hearing. His claims for increased rating, initial compensable evaluation, and service connection are still pending.

The Board denied the reopening of the claim for service connection for lumbosacral strain with sacralization at L5, finding that no new and material evidence had been received to support the claim.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for right ear hearing loss disability has been reopened and granted. The Board finds that the Veteran's current right ear hearing loss disability originated during his period of active duty due to noise exposure in service.

The Veteran's lumbar and cervical spine disabilities are currently rated at 20 percent. The Board finds that the current ratings adequately reflect the severity of these conditions based on the evidence provided.

The Board has ordered additional development to obtain VA treatment records from the VAMC in Miami, Florida. The case will be returned for further consideration.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's current back disability did not have its onset during active duty service or is related to an event, injury, or disease in service. The preponderance of evidence does not support a finding of service connection for the Veteran's claimed back disability.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's current low back disability is related to his active military service, and thus grants the claim for service connection.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for low back pain and bilateral knee disability, finding that there is insufficient evidence to support a link between these conditions and his military service.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for further development due to outstanding VA treatment records and verification of claimed stressors.

The Board found that the Veteran's back disability was not caused by injury in service, did not manifest to a compensable degree within one year of separation from active service, and is not otherwise etiologically related to his active service.

The Veteran's claim for a higher disability rating for low back syndrome is denied as the evidence does not demonstrate incapacitating episodes or ankylosis. The current 40 percent rating adequately reflects his symptoms.

The Veteran's claims for increased disability ratings were denied. The Board found that the evidence did not meet the criteria for a higher rating under any applicable diagnostic codes.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not prevent him from securing and following substantially gainful employment, as his psychiatric disability does not impair his ability to work, and he is capable of performing sedentary or light physical activity.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's current right leg and low back disorders are not etiologically related to service or a service-connected disability.,Specifically, the VA examiner found no evidence of a current hip disorder present.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's claimed conditions, including left ear hearing loss, cardiac disorder, back disability, and neck disability, were not incurred or aggravated by service. The claim for service connection is denied.

The Veteran's claim for a higher disability rating for his service-connected degenerative disc disease of the lumbar spine is being remanded due to the need for additional development, including obtaining updated VA treatment records and providing the Veteran with a new VA examination.