Back / lumbar spine Board decisions

The Veteran's claims for service connection were denied. The Board found no evidence of ischemic heart disease due to herbicide exposure, but granted service connection for hypertensive heart disease. Other claims were either not addressed or denied.

The Board has granted service connection for cervical and lumbar spine disorders, as well as a TDIU rating.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including PTSD, migraine headaches, thoracolumbar spine disability, and other conditions, render her unable to secure or follow substantially gainful employment. The Board grants a TDIU from January 12, 2005.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's current diagnoses of degenerative changes at L5-S1 and a thoracic/lumbar strain, along with his diagnosis of hypertension, are related to service. Service connection is granted for these conditions.

The Board has granted the Veteran's claims of service connection for bilateral hearing loss disability, tinnitus, and right knee disability. The low back disability claim was denied as not having had its onset in service or being otherwise related to service. Service connection is also denied for left knee disability and bilateral hip disability.

The Veteran's TDIU claim was remanded by the Board and is now being referred to the Director of VA's Compensation and Pension Service for consideration of entitlement to a TDIU in accordance with 38 C.F.R. § 4.16(b).

The Board has determined that the Veteran's low back disability did not have its clinical onset in service and is not otherwise related to active duty. The arthritis was not exhibited within the first post-service year.

Your claim for service connection for lumbosacral strain, previously claimed as a low back disability, has been granted and you are now receiving a 40 percent disability rating effective October 28, 2008.

The Veteran's service-connected ventral incisional hernia was granted as a result of new and material evidence, but his cervical spine and right shoulder disabilities remain denied.

The Board has remanded the case due to incomplete development and requests for additional records. The Veteran's claims for service connection for degenerative changes of the cervical and lumbar spine, as well as bunions and hammertoes, are pending.

The Board has remanded the case for further development, including obtaining records from FCI Butner, USP Terre Haute, and USP Lewisburg, as well as any court documents related to a civil claim filed in 1986 or 1987. The claims will be reconsidered after these developments.

The Veteran's claim for an increased rating for his service-connected degenerative joint and disc disease of the lumbar spine was denied. The Board found that the current disability picture did not warrant a higher evaluation under any applicable diagnostic codes.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including obtaining VA treatment records and inpatient hospitalization records from Fort Gordon Base Hospital. The Veteran's claim of entitlement to service connection for a low back disorder will be readjudicated after all development is completed.

The Board has denied the claims for service connection for a low back disorder, right knee disorder, and left knee disorder. The preponderance of evidence does not support these claims.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities prevented him from engaging in substantially gainful employment prior to December 15, 2006.

The Board is remanding the case for scheduling a videoconference hearing to address all issues on appeal, including reopening claims and service connection.

The claims for increased ratings and TDIU were denied, as the Veteran's service-connected conditions did not meet the criteria for higher ratings. The claim for DIC was also denied due to lack of evidence showing that the cause of death was related to his service-connected disabilities.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining VA treatment records and SSA records. The issues of service connection for a left knee disability, increased rating for degenerative disc disease of the lumbar spine, compensable rating for bilateral hearing loss, and TDIU are also being remanded.

The Board has decided to remand the case for further development, including obtaining workers' compensation records and scheduling a VA examination.

The Board has granted the Veteran's request to reopen her claim of service connection for a low back disability and found that new and material evidence has been received. The case is now remanded for further development, including obtaining medical records from service and after-service, and an examination to determine the etiology of the Veteran's current low back disability.