Back / lumbar spine Board decisions

The Veteran's claim for service connection for PTSD was reopened and granted. The lumbar spine disability is rated at 40 percent, effective January 9, 2012. Service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, cervical spine degenerative disc disease, fibromyalgia, and rectal prolapse are all denied.

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

The Board has determined that the Veteran's tinnitus is related to his in-service noise exposure, and thus service connection for this condition is granted.

The Board has dismissed the Veteran's appeal of his claim for a compensable initial disability rating for bilateral hearing loss. The claim for service connection for a lumbar spine disability, right hip disability, and left knee disability is denied as there is no evidence showing that these conditions are related to active military service.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including obtaining VA outpatient records and scheduling a VA examination to determine if the Veteran requires aid and attendance due to service-connected disabilities.

The Board has decided to remand the Veteran's claims for additional development due to inadequate examination reports and other issues.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's right ankle condition is related to his active duty service and granted service connection for this condition. The back condition, however, was not found to be directly related to service.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's low back disability, including spondylolysis L5-S1, degenerative joint disease, degenerative disc disease, spondylolisthesis, and scoliosis, is related to his active service. The condition was noted upon entry into service and is considered a new and material issue due to the reopening of the claim based on additional evidence.

The Board has remanded the case due to inadequate VA examination and need for additional records, including those related to a 1977 work-related injury. The Veteran's claim will be reconsidered in light of these new developments.

Prior to July 8, 2013, the Veteran's lumbar spine disability was rated at 20 percent for arthritis of the lumbosacral spine with bilateral radiculopathy.,From July 8, 2013, the Veteran's lumbar spine disability is rated at 40 percent for degenerative disc disease with spondylolisthesis of L5 and S1.

The Board finds that the Veteran does not have a current diagnosis of a right shoulder disorder and therefore, service connection for this condition is denied. The claim for service connection for a low back disorder is remanded to obtain an addendum opinion from the July 2011 VA examiner.

The Veteran's appeal for a higher disability rating for his service-connected lumbar spine degenerative disease has been dismissed due to the death of the Veteran during the pendency of the appeal.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded due to incomplete development of his claims file. He needs to provide any private treatment records related to his service-connected lumbar strain and the VA will obtain them on his behalf.

The Board found that the Veteran's claimed disabilities are not service-connected and denied his claims.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's current low back disability is the result of an in-service injury, and thus service connection for this condition is granted. The issue regarding the left knee disability will be remanded as it requires additional development.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for cervical spine and lumbar spine disabilities were denied as the evidence did not meet the criteria for a higher rating under VA regulations.

The Veteran's claims for higher initial ratings for degenerative disc disease of the lumbar spine and radiculopathy of the right lower extremity were denied. The Veteran was granted a TDIU effective July 18, 2005.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for a back disability and bilateral knee disability, finding no competent evidence relating these conditions to service.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's left hand disorder and lumbar spine disorder were not incurred or aggravated by her active duty service.

The Board has ordered a remand for further development and medical opinion regarding the Veteran's claim of service connection for a lumbar spine disorder. The case will be returned to the Board after the additional development is completed.