Back / lumbar spine Board decisions

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including PTSD and psychotic disorder, cervical spine disability, low back disability, tinnitus, shell fragment wound scars, hemorrhoids, and left ear hearing loss, result in painful, limited motion that impairs his ability to perform employment of both a physical and sedentary nature. The evidence is at least in equipoise as to whether these disabilities prevent him from obtaining and retaining substantially gainful employment.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's current back disability is not related to service or caused by any of his service-connected conditions, including left ankle, knee, and fibromyalgia.

The Veteran's low back disability has not resulted in forward flexion of 30 degrees or less, ankylosis of the spine, any incapacitating episodes, or any objective neurological abnormalities at any time during the course of the claim and appeal.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for a video teleconference hearing before the Board of Veterans' Appeals.

The Veteran's claim for increased ratings for his lumbar spine condition is being remanded due to the need for additional medical records and a new VA examination.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for effective dates prior to January 6, 2009 for service connection of migraine headaches, lumbar spine strain due to scoliosis, and right knee patellofemoral pain syndrome as these awards became final after a February 2001 rating decision on merits.

The Veteran's claim for service connection of a low back disability is being remanded due to the need for additional development, including obtaining his personnel file and providing him with a VA examination.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for scheduling a Board videoconference hearing. The service connection issue remains unresolved and will be addressed in the future.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for cold injury residuals of the bilateral legs and feet, finding that there was no evidence to support these conditions. The decision also noted that the Veteran did not sustain any cold injuries in service.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for major depressive disorder and a lumbar spine disability has been granted. His son, S.M., is recognized as the helpless child of the Veteran on the basis of permanent incapacity for self-support prior to the age of 18.

The Board has remanded the case for a Travel Board hearing due to issues with recording at the previous hearing. Service connection claims for bilateral knee condition and degenerative disc disease of the lumbar spine are pending, as is the TDIU claim.

The Board has decided to remand the case for additional development, including obtaining VA treatment records and scheduling a spine examination.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's lumbar spine disability, which is rated as lumbosacral strain under DC 5237, does not warrant a rating in excess of 10 percent due to its current functional impairment. The Veteran currently exhibits forward flexion to at least 85 degrees without evidence of muscle spasms, guarding, or ankylosis.

The Board has determined that the appellant's cervical and thoracic spine disorders are related to his military service, granting service connection for these conditions.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded due to the need for VA examinations to address service connection claims and an updated hearing loss rating.

The Veteran's claim for increased ratings for his low back disability was denied. The Board found that the evidence did not meet the criteria for a higher rating prior to May 7, 2012 and since May 7, 2012.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for a back disorder and hypertension, as well as an increased rating for diabetes mellitus. The case is being remanded for further development.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's recurrent lumbosacral spine disorder, including degenerative disc disease and spondylosis, originated during active service.

The Board found that the Veteran is not entitled to an earlier effective date for a 40 percent rating for his thoracolumbar spine disability, but it remanded the TDIU claim due to procedural issues.

The Veteran's claims of entitlement to a rating in excess of 10 percent for peptic ulcer disease and whether new and material evidence has been received to reopen the claim for service connection for a lumbar spine disorder were denied.