Back / lumbar spine Board decisions

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development to clarify the creation and notification of an overpayment of pension benefits.

The Board has reopened the Veteran's claim of service connection for a back disability and granted service connection based on evidence showing that his current back disability is related to an in-service injury.

The Board found no evidence of a chronic lumbosacral spine disability in service and denied the Veteran's claim for service connection.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for hepatitis, an acquired psychiatric disorder, a back disorder, and bilateral eye disorders. The decision found no current evidence of hepatitis or a current diagnosis of thoracic lordosis. It also determined that there was insufficient medical evidence to establish a link between the Veteran's back disorder and his active duty service. The Board denied service connection for bilateral eye disorders as well.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for further development, including obtaining medical records and scheduling examinations to assess the severity of his psychiatric conditions, lumbar spine condition, and bilateral hearing loss. The issue of entitlement to a total disability rating based on individual unemployability as a result of service-connected disabilities (TDIU) will also be addressed.

The Veteran's service-connected lumbar spine radiculopathy to the left lower extremity is rated at 40 percent, effective September 13, 2007. The Board also granted a total rating for compensation based on individual unemployability as of that date.

The Veteran's TDIU claim is being remanded due to the need for additional development, including securing VA treatment records and scheduling a vocational evaluation.

The Board has remanded the case due to the Veteran's failure to appear at a scheduled travel board hearing. The claims are now pending for further action.

The Board has remanded the claims due to incomplete records and conflicting medical opinions. The Veteran's service connection claims for low back, bilateral knee, bilateral wrist, and headache disabilities are being reviewed with additional development.

The Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD, is related to her in-service trauma. The Board finds credible the Veteran's assertion of a sexual assault during service and concludes that she has an acquired psychiatric disorder as a result of this trauma. The Veteran also has a low back disorder which is related to her in-service injury on stairs.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded due to the need for a videoconference hearing before a Veterans Law Judge.

The Veteran's claim for an increased rating for her service-connected chronic lumbar strain with degenerative joint disease is being remanded due to the need for updated private treatment records and a VA examination.

The Board has determined that additional development is needed to determine the nature and etiology of the Veteran's claimed right ankle and low back disabilities, including obtaining VA treatment records and a medical examination.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for chronic lumbar strain, bilateral knee degenerative joint disease (DJD), right shoulder disorders including osteoarthritis and impingement, and bilateral ankle arthritis. The diagnoses were not deemed to be related to service.

The Board has granted service connection for low back, right knee, left knee, and right foot disorders as secondary to the service-connected left foot hallux valgus.

The Board has granted service connection for right hip disability, diagnosed as avascular necrosis of the right hip with degenerative arthritis. The claim for lumbar disc disease is being remanded.

The Board has remanded the case due to incomplete medical records and the need for a VA examination to determine if sleep apnea is related to service, as well as an evaluation of the Veteran's lumbar strain.

The Board has reopened the Veteran's claim for service connection for degenerative disc disease of the lumbar spine and established that his current condition is related to his time in service.

The Board found that the Veteran does not have a lumbar spine, right hip, or cervical spine disability that is related to his military service or caused by a service-connected condition.

The Veteran's lower back condition and left knee condition are found to be at least as likely as not aggravated or proximately due to his service-connected right knee disability, respectively.