Back / lumbar spine Board decisions

The Veteran is seeking service connection for a cervical spine disability and an increased rating for his right ankle disability. These claims are being remanded to obtain updated VA treatment records, as well as a new VA examination.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are found to be related to service, while the back disability (claimed as TBI) and headaches are not found to be related to service.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded to the RO for a Board hearing. The issues of entitlement to service connection for left knee tendonitis, right knee tendonitis, and a chronic back condition are pending.

The Board has reopened the claims of entitlement to service connection for a right shoulder disability, left wrist disability, upper back disability, mid-to-low-back disability, right knee disability, left knee disability, right ankle disability, and PTSD. The Veteran's reports of inservice acoustic trauma are accepted as credible evidence of an in-service event. Service connection is granted.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining medical records and scheduling the Veteran for an appropriate VA examination to assess her current level of disability.

The Veteran's claims for service connection were denied. The Board found that the Veteran did not have current left ear hearing loss disability, and his preexisting lumbar spine disorder was not aggravated by service. His right shoulder and left shoulder disorders are addressed in a separate remand. The initial compensable ratings for costochondritis and right ear hearing loss disability were also denied.

The Board denied all increased rating claims as the Veteran's service-connected conditions did not meet the criteria for a higher disability rating.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to scheduling issues for a hearing before the Board. The Veteran's claims for service connection remain under review.

The Board has ordered a VA examination to determine the nature and etiology of any currently diagnosed right knee and right leg disabilities, including their relationship to service-connected lumbar strain. The claims will be readjudicated based on this new evidence.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims of service connection for low back and neck disabilities due to incomplete records from the Alabama National Guard. The case will be returned for further development.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient evidence and needs further examination before service connection for a low back disability can be decided.

The Board found that the Veteran's low back and cervical spine disabilities are not related to his service, as there is no evidence of chronic conditions in service or for many years thereafter. The VA examinations did not support a finding of direct service connection.

The Veteran's service-connected low back degenerative disc disease and multilevel lumbar spondylosis are found to be related to his military service. Additionally, the Board has granted a TDIU from October 1, 2014 forward due to his service-connected disabilities.

The Board found that there is no evidence of a nexus between the Veteran's current lumbar, cervical, left hand, right hand, and GERD disabilities and his active service or any service-connected disability. The claims for these conditions were denied.

For the period from September 25, 2001 to November 8, 2011, the Veteran's lumbar spine disability symptoms manifested with forward flexion of the thoracolumbar spine greater than 30 degrees; thus, his limitation of motion was moderate.,For the period from November 9, 2011 to July 10, 2014, the Veteran's lumbar spine disability manifested with forward flexion of the thoracolumbar spine at 30 degrees or less, pain, limitation of motion, muscle spasm or guarding resulting in an abnormal gait or abnormal spinal contour.,Since July 11, 2014, the Veteran's lumbar spine disability manifested with forward flexion of the thoracolumbar spine greater than 30 degrees but not greater than 60 degrees, pain, limitation of motion, muscle spasm or guarding resulting in an abnormal gait or abnormal spinal contour.

The Board finds that the Veteran's back condition is not related to his active service and therefore denies service connection for a back condition. The Veteran's hearing loss disability does not meet the criteria for a compensable rating.

The Veteran's lumbar spine degenerative joint disease and degenerative disc disease are currently rated at 40 percent, which is the maximum schedular rating available. The radiculopathy of the left lower extremity is currently rated at 10 percent.

The Veteran's claims for service connection have been reopened, but the effective date of his PTSD service connection remains January 24, 2001. The Board found new and material evidence to reopen the claims for back disorder, bilateral leg disorder, and Paget's disease.

The Veteran's claims for service connection have been denied. The Board found no evidence of a current disability related to the claimed conditions and insufficient medical nexus opinions.

The Board has found that the Veteran's right elbow disability is not related to service. The claims for back and bilateral foot disabilities are being remanded due to incomplete records and need for further examination.