Back / lumbar spine Board decisions

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including his tension headaches rated at 50 percent disabling and bilateral flat feet rated at 30 percent disabling, have rendered him unable to secure or follow substantially gainful employment. The Board has granted a TDIU.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to incomplete VA examination report and need for additional treatment records. The Veteran's claim will be reconsidered based on all evidence.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's low back disability is a result of his active service, and therefore grants service connection for this condition.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for fibromyalgia, a back disorder, and hypertension. The evidence did not establish new and material evidence to reopen the claim for fibromyalgia. Service connection was also denied for the back disorder and hypertension as there is no direct or presumptive evidence of these conditions during service.

The Board has remanded the case due to new evidence received after a previous decision, and further review is needed before an appropriate rating can be determined.

The Board found that the Veteran's low back, hip, and bilateral knee disabilities did not manifest during her periods of service or were otherwise related to such service. The preponderance of evidence is against a finding that these conditions are service-connected.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for his lumbar spine disability and associated radiculopathy of the left lower extremity were denied. The Board found that the evidence did not support a higher rating based on the orthopedic component or neurological symptoms.

The Veteran was awarded a TDIU effective December 1, 2004. The Board found that he was unemployable due to his service-connected disabilities between January 25, 1996 and December 1, 2004.

The Board found no evidence of a low back disorder or neck disorder in service and denied the Veteran's claims for service connection.

The Board found that the Veteran's current lumbar spine disability is not related to his military service and denied his claim for service connection.

The Veteran's service-connected degenerative disc disease of the lumbar spine warrants a 40 percent evaluation effective December 1, 2011. He is also entitled to a separate compensable evaluation for radiculopathy of the left lower extremity associated with his back disability.

The Veteran's appeal has been dismissed as the appellant requested withdrawal of the appeal prior to a decision being made.

The Veteran's claims for service connection and increased ratings for his left shoulder disorder, low back disorder, healed fracture of the left radius and ulna, and scars have been denied. The Board found no evidence linking these conditions to service or showing they are related to any in-service injury.

The Veteran's initial increased disability rating for his chronic thoracolumbar strain and compression fractures was granted, but the effective date remains pending as it has not been determined.

The Board granted separate 20 percent ratings for sciatica of the right and left lower extremities associated with DDD of the lumbar spine, effective January 3, 2014.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's low back disability and disabilities of his bilateral lower extremities are not service-connected. The examiner concluded that the current low back condition is less likely than not related to service, as there was no evidence of chronic symptoms post-service.

The Board has determined that new and material evidence has been received to reopen the Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral ankle disability, left shoulder disability, low back disability, fatigue (claimed as due to chronic fatigue syndrome or undiagnosed illness), respiratory disorder (claimed as due to an undiagnosed illness), depressive disorder, NOS, and diabetes mellitus. As such, these claims are granted.

The Board found that the Veteran's disagreement with his reduced rating included a claim for an increased rating. The reduction of his 40 percent rating to a 10 percent rating was proper based on improvement in his disability.

The Board denied a higher rating for chronic lumbosacral strain and dismissed the appeal on the issue of annual clothing allowance.

The Veteran's initial rating for his service-connected back disability was granted at 10 percent prior to October 2, 2015. Since then, a higher rating of 20 percent has been granted effective from October 2, 2015.