Back / lumbar spine Board decisions

The Board found that the Veteran's current low back disorder is not linked to his military service, including an in-service injury sustained during combat. The evidence does not support a finding of service connection.

The Board has remanded the case for a new VA examination to address the nature and etiology of the Veteran's low back and left hip disabilities, as well as consider all theories of service connection.

The appellant is at least as likely as not in need of aid and attendance based on physical incapacity, which requires care or assistance on a regular basis to protect the claimant from hazards or dangers incident to her daily environment. The Board finds that she needs regular aid and assistance due to medical conditions such as dizziness, imbalance, angina, fatigue, dyspnea, pain, numbness, and falls.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including scheduling a video conference hearing.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for a new hearing due to issues related to service connection for various conditions including heart, liver, respiratory, and dental conditions.

The Veteran's service connection claims for PTSD, lumbar spine disorder, left knee disorder, right foot disorder, and left foot disorder have been granted. The Board found that the Veteran has a current diagnosis of PTSD related to his in-service stressor and established a nexus between this stressor and his current symptoms.

The Board has directed that the Veteran be scheduled for VA examinations to determine the current severity of his service-connected bilateral pes planus and low back syndrome. The case is also remanded for clarification of the Veteran's address and rescheduling of the examinations.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hand disorder and lumbar spine disorder are being remanded due to the need for additional development, including obtaining medical records and providing new VA examinations.

The Veteran is seeking service connection for a lumbar spine disability that she claims is secondary to her service-connected right hip disability. The Board has ordered additional development due to the need for clarification on whether the Veteran's current lumbar spine disability is proximately due to or caused by her service-connected right hip disability, and if so, whether it is aggravated by this condition.

The Board has determined that the Veteran does not have a low back disability, psychiatric disability, or hypertension that were incurred during his military service. The evidence does not support a finding of service connection for any of these conditions.

The Board has remanded the case for further development, including consideration of whether new and material evidence has been received to reopen the claim of service connection for a cervical spine disorder. The TDIU issue remains in dispute.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities prevent him from obtaining and maintaining gainful employment, and the Board has granted TDIU based on this finding.

The Board dismissed the appeal for a higher rating for tinnitus and dismissed the pending appeal for an earlier effective date for service connection of tinnitus. The Veteran withdrew his claim for a higher rating for tinnitus at his hearing before the Board in December 2015.

The Board found that the Veteran's claimed bilateral shoulder, neck and back disorders did not have their onset in service or are otherwise related to active duty. As a result, the claims for service connection were denied.

The Veteran's claim for an increased rating of his service-connected lumbar myositis was granted, but the claims for service connection of major depressive disorder and TDIU were denied. The decision is mixed as some issues were granted while others were not.

The Board granted service connection for a low back disability, finding that the Veteran's current condition is related to his in-service muscle strain. Service connection was denied for leg cramps and circulation problems, as there is no objective evidence of such conditions.

The Veteran's claim for a higher rating for his service-connected degenerative disc disease L4-5 with pain radiated to right testicle, right buttock and right leg is being remanded due to the need for additional examination and development of records.

The Board has determined that the Veteran does not meet the criteria for service connection for various conditions, including bilateral eye disability, renal dysfunction, urinary incontinence, heart disability, fecal incontinence, peripheral neuropathy of upper and lower extremities, low back disability, cervical spine disability, bilateral knee disabilities, bilateral ankle disabilities, and bilateral hearing loss. The Veteran's claims have been denied.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including requesting Social Security Administration records and determining whether new and material evidence has been received to reopen the Veteran's claim of entitlement to service connection for a low back disorder.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not prevent him from securing or following a substantially gainful occupation.