Back / lumbar spine Board decisions

The Board found that the Veteran's back and neck disabilities are not related to service, as they were diagnosed after the first postservice year and do not show continuity of symptoms. The claim for migraines was remanded due to conflicting etiological opinions.,Service connection is denied for all three conditions: back disability, neck disability, and migraines.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's current spinal fusion in his low back is related to his active service and thus grants service connection for this disability.

The Board has remanded the case for a third time due to additional development being required. The Veteran's claim of entitlement to service connection for a low back disability is currently under review.

The Veteran's back disability, including radiculopathy of the lower extremities, is rated at 20 percent since September 9, 2014. The claim for a separate rating for radiculopathy of the upper extremities was not addressed in this decision.

The Board has decided to remand the Veteran's claim for an increased rating for his service-connected lumbar strain due to inadequate VA examination findings. The Veteran needs a new VA examination to determine the current nature and severity of his disability, including specific findings as to the point at which pain is demonstrated on active range of motion.

The Veteran's appeal involves multiple issues including increased ratings for various service-connected disabilities, a TDIU claim, and the assignment of combined disability ratings. The Board has determined that some claims have been granted while others remain pending.

The Board found no evidence that the Veteran's current low back disability was caused or aggravated by his military service, and denied his claim for service connection.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including obtaining VA medical records and providing the Veteran with a VA examination to assess his service-connected lumbosacral strain with degenerative joint disease and bilateral lower extremity femoral radiculopathy.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's current cervical spine DDD is related to his military service, and thus grants service connection for residuals of a head/neck injury.

The Veteran's service-connected PTSD and degenerative changes of the lumbar spine render him unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation, and the Board has granted a TDIU.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's low back disability is not related to his service and therefore denied his claim for service connection.

The Veteran has submitted new and material evidence to reopen his previously denied claims for service connection for low back, upper back, bilateral hip, and bilateral shoulder conditions. The Board will now review the merits of these reopened claims.

The Veteran's left knee arthritis has been rated at 10 percent since September 14, 1997. The lumbar spine intervertebral disc syndrome issue remains unresolved as the appeal is not about service connection.

The Board found no evidence of a chronic lower or upper back condition during service, and the Veteran's current conditions are not linked to his military service. The Board denied both claims for service connection.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims of service connection for neck disability, back disability, left eye disability, residuals of cold injury of feet, traumatic brain injury, anxiety, and depressive disorder. The evidence did not establish a link between these conditions and his military service.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded due to the need for a videoconference hearing. The issues of entitlement to initial compensable disability ratings and service connection are not addressed in this decision.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining updated treatment records and scheduling a VA examination to assess the severity of his service-connected low back disorder. The TDIU claim will also be considered during this process.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining medical records and scheduling a VA examination to evaluate the current severity of his service-connected lumbosacral strain.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's lumbar spine disability is not related to service and therefore denied his claim for service connection.

The Veteran's claim for a rating in excess of 40 percent for DJD of the lumbar spine is dismissed. The Board has reopened his previously denied claim of service connection for pes planus and granted it, finding that the pre-existing condition worsened during military service.