Back / lumbar spine Board decisions

The Veteran's tinnitus and lumbar spine disability are presumed to have been incurred in service. The right eye cataract, left eye cataract, and glaucoma claims are granted as secondary to diabetes mellitus, type II.

The Veteran seeks compensation benefits for additional chronic spinal injury residuals resulting from a fall on May 20, 2008. The Board has determined that further examination and review of the case are necessary to determine if any 'additional disability' was caused by VA medical personnel's carelessness or negligence.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including obtaining medical records and scheduling a VA examination. The appeal is now pending again with the Board.

The Board has ordered additional development for spine and skin examinations during flare-ups, as well as a VA dermatologist's examination. The case is being remanded to the AOJ for these actions.

Your claim for service connection for a back disorder has been granted, and you are now receiving a rating of 10% effective July 21, 2014. The issue is dismissed as moot.

The Board has ordered a new VA examination to determine if the Veteran's back disability is related to his active duty service. The current examination was inadequate as it did not consider the Veteran's reported in-service injury and relied solely on the absence of objective evidence in the service treatment records.

The Veteran's lumbar spondylosis is currently rated at 40 percent, effective February 2, 2013. His left and right lower extremity radiculopathies are each rated at 10 percent.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's low back condition, left knee chondromalacia, patellofemoral syndrome and iliotibial band syndrome of the bilateral knees were incurred in service.

The Board found that the Veteran's current low back disability is not related to his military service and denied his claim for service connection.

The Veteran's claims for higher initial ratings were denied across multiple conditions, with the Board finding that the evidence did not meet the criteria for a rating in excess of 10 percent.

The Board denied service connection for a back disability and found that the Veteran's unemployability prior to June 25, 2013 was not due solely to his service-connected disabilities. The decision also noted that there is no effective date assigned for TDIU prior to this date.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including degenerative disc disease of the lumbosacral spine, right knee replacement, left knee chondromalacia and left knee debridement, were the underlying cause of his death from cardiac arrhythmia due to coronary artery disease. The Appellant's testimony supports this finding.

The Veteran's left knee disability was restored to a 40 percent rating, and the claim for service connection of his back disability has been reopened.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for a back disability and a compensable rating for his left leg scar were denied as the evidence did not support a finding that these conditions are related to his active duty service.

The Board has determined that additional development is needed to properly assess the Veteran's service-connected low back disability and remands the case for further action.

The Veteran's claim for a rating in excess of 20 percent for his low back disability was denied, as the evidence did not meet the criteria for such an increase.

The Board has determined that additional development is needed to adjudicate the Veteran's claim for service connection of a back disability, including obtaining VA treatment records and Social Security Administration (SSA) records. The Veteran will be provided an opportunity to submit evidence and respond to the decision.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for a low back disability has been reopened due to the submission of new and material evidence. Service connection is not granted as his current condition is found to be the result of willful misconduct.,The Veteran's claim for service connection for sleep apnea has also been reopened due to the submission of new and material evidence. However, service connection cannot be established as there is no direct link between his in-service exposure and his current condition.

The Veteran's claims for increased evaluations and TDIU are being remanded due to the need for additional examinations and development of his service-connected disabilities.

The Veteran's lumbar disc bulge and narrowing, with chronic low back pain warrants an initial 10 percent rating. The Veteran's HPV, status post colposcopy and LEEP procedures is rated as non-compensable.