Back / lumbar spine Board decisions

The Veteran's left ear hearing loss is reasonably shown to have resulted from his exposure to noise trauma in service. The Board finds that it is reasonably shown that the Veteran's spine disability was incurred in service.

The Board has remanded the case to the RO for further development due to an inadequate February 2013 VA examination. The Veteran was provided a new examination in July 2015, but a supplemental statement of the case must be issued.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for further development due to inadequate examination and other procedural issues.

The Board found that the Veteran's low back disorder, characterized as lumbosacral strain, is not etiologically related to any incidents or injuries sustained during his military service.

The Veteran's claim for a TDIU and increase rating for low back disability has been fully granted, effective September 16, 2010.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient medical opinion regarding the etiology of the Veteran's low back disability. The claim will be returned for further development.

The Board has remanded the case due to a hearing request and other procedural issues. The Veteran's claims for service connection for left hip degenerative joint disease and lumbar degenerative disc disorder are pending.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for hypertension, hearing loss, residuals of head trauma, facial scars, neck disability, and low back disability. The PTSD claim was also denied as there is no current disability warranting a rating.

The Veteran's low back disability, hypertension, residuals of urethral stricture and surgical repair, and hemorrhoids have been granted initial ratings of 10 percent each. The effective date is November 1, 2008.

The Veteran was granted a TDIU effective April 26, 2009, due to the combined effects of his service-connected disabilities preventing him from securing or following substantially gainful employment.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development due to a need for a VA examination of the Veteran's lumbar spine disability. The claim will be reconsidered after this development.

The Board has remanded the case for another VA examination to evaluate the current severity and neurological impairment of the service-connected lumbosacral spine disability due to inconsistent findings.

The Board has determined that new and material evidence was received to reopen the claim of entitlement to service connection for a right knee disability. The Veteran's current right knee disability is etiologically related to his active service, and he also has a currently diagnosed back disability that is causally connected to his active service.

The Veteran's PFB and low back disability are found to be related to service. The depressive disorder is found to be aggravated by the service-connected eye disability.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for sleep apnea and a lumbar spine disability, as well as his claim for an increased rating for diabetes mellitus. The Veteran's current 20% rating for diabetes mellitus is upheld.

The Veteran's lumbosacral strain is found to have had its onset during service and continues today, warranting service connection. The claims for the other conditions are dismissed as the Veteran withdrew his appeals.

The Veteran's appeal for service connection for a low back disability has been dismissed due to his death.

The Board has granted service connection for left hip osteoarthritis and total hip replacement residuals, finding that the Veteran's current condition is related to his service-connected right knee chondromalacia patella and a left knee sprain. Service connection was denied for lumbosacral spine degenerative arthritis.

The Board has remanded the case due to inadequate examination and unclear service connection theory, requiring a new VA examination to address the onset of any spine disability during active duty or ACDUTRA/INACDUTRA.

The Veteran's low back disability has been rated at 20 percent since August 26, 2004. The current rating is based on forward flexion of the thoracolumbar spine greater than 30 degrees but not greater than 60 degrees.