Back / lumbar spine Board decisions

The Veteran's claim for an increased rating for lumbosacral strain was granted, with a 10% rating effective March 11, 2010.,Service connection for benign prostatic hypertrophy was withdrawn from appeal.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for diabetes mellitus, and denied his increased rating claims for lumbar spine disability and cervical spine disability. The Veteran was also denied TDIU.

The Board has remanded the case due to incomplete records and instructed that appropriate efforts should be made to obtain the Veteran's Social Security Administration (SSA) disability determination and related records. The claim will be reconsidered after these records are obtained.

The Veteran's appeal regarding the issues of bilateral hearing loss, bilateral wrist disability, sleep apnea, and residuals of meningitis has been withdrawn.,The Veteran's bilateral pes planus clearly and unmistakably pre-existed active duty service and was not incurred or aggravated by such service.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's back, right ankle and foot disabilities, and left foot disability are not related to service or any service-connected condition. The claims for these conditions have been denied.

The Veteran's appeal has been withdrawn by the appellant, resulting in the dismissal of his case.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings and a total disability rating based on individual unemployability due to service-connected disabilities were denied as the Veteran did not report for scheduled VA examinations.

The Board has granted service connection for cervical and lumbosacral spine disabilities, but dismissed the request for an earlier effective date for the right wrist disability.

The Veteran's lumbar spine disability was rated at 40 percent prior to July 21, 2015 and increased to 40 percent thereafter. The claim for TDIU prior to July 21, 2015 was denied.

The Board has ordered a remand for the Veteran's claim of service connection for a back disability, which is currently pending. The case will be returned to the AOJ for further development and consideration.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not meet the criteria for SMC based on need for regular aid and attendance or by reason of being housebound.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for a back disorder, finding that there is no evidence to support a link between his resolved cerebrospinal meningitis and his current back disorder. The claim was denied as the weight of the evidence did not show that the Veteran had a chronic back disability during or within one year after service.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection due to incomplete development and missing records. The claims will be returned to the AOJ for further action.

The Veteran's service-connected low back disc pathology, root irritation at L5, has not resulted in unfavorable ankylosis of the entire thoracolumbar spine or incapacitating episodes having a total duration of at least 6 weeks during the past 12 months for any period on appeal. Therefore, he is not entitled to an increased disability rating in excess of 40 percent.

The Veteran's lumbar spine disability is rated at 50 percent, and his left lower extremity radiculopathy is rated at 20 percent from September 23, 2015. The Board has determined that the current ratings are appropriate.

The Veteran's claim for increased ratings for chronic lumbar strain was denied. The Board found that the evidence did not meet the criteria for a higher rating prior to February 9, 2012 and since then.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for a low back disorder is being remanded due to the need for additional development and clarification of the medical opinions provided.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's tinnitus is related to his in-service noise exposure and finds it at least as likely as not that he currently suffers from this condition. For the back disorder, the evidence does not establish a current diagnosis or continuity of symptoms since service.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded due to the need for additional development, including obtaining service treatment records and private medical records.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development due to incomplete records, including SSA disability benefits and workers' compensation claims.