Back / lumbar spine Board decisions

The Veteran's claim for service connection for a chronic lumbar spine disability was denied as there is no medical evidence showing the current condition is related to his active duty service.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claim of service connection for a right shoulder disability, finding that it is not related to his service-connected left shoulder and/or lumbar spine disabilities.

The Veteran has withdrawn his appeal regarding the issues of an initial rating in excess of 10 percent for degenerative disc disease of the lumbar spine, a compensable rating for right knee, status post arthroscopy, and an effective date earlier than February 21, 2009, for service connection for degenerative disc disease of the lumbar spine.

The Board dismissed the appeal due to the Veteran's death, as it has no jurisdiction to adjudicate the merits of this appeal at this time.

The Board has reopened the Veteran's claim for service connection of a low back disability and found that new evidence supports reopening. The presumption of soundness is rebutted, and the Board concludes that the Veteran's low back disability was not aggravated by military service.

The Veteran's low back disability requires a brace which tends to wear or tear his clothing, warranting an annual clothing allowance for the year 2012.,The Veteran's right and left knee strains do not qualify for a clothing allowance as they are not service-connected disabilities.

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

The Board found that the reduction of the Veteran's evaluation for service-connected lumbar spondylosis from 40 percent to 10 percent, effective June 1, 2011, was proper. The claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss and bilateral knee disorders were also granted.

The Veteran's service-connected back disability and associated radiculopathy have been granted effective July 1, 2012.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including obtaining VA treatment records and conducting examinations to assess the severity of the Veteran's claimed disabilities. The AOJ should also determine if referral is warranted under 38 C.F.R. § 4.17(b) for consideration of extraschedular ratings.

The Board found no credible evidence of an in-service back injury and denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for a thoracolumbar spine disorder.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including obtaining updated VA treatment records and clarifying whether the Veteran is receiving Social Security Administration (SSA) disability benefits. The case will be reconsidered based on this new information.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded for further development, including a new VA examination to address the current severity of his service-connected low back disability and its effect on his ability to perform occupational tasks in a worklike setting. The TDIU claim will also be addressed.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development and readjudication of the claims, including service connection for a low back disability, increased rating for conversion disorder, and effective date prior to January 27, 2010 for TDIU.

The Board found that the Veteran's back disability did not have its onset in service and is not the result of a disease or injury incurred in active service. The claim for sleep disorder, to include sleep apnea, requires additional action prior to adjudication.

The Board found that the Veteran's right knee and back disabilities were not caused or aggravated by his service-connected scar, residuals of a shell fragment wound of the right calf and ankle. The VA examiner concluded that there was no significant gait abnormality or leg length discrepancy to cause biomechanical abnormalities resulting from the service-connected disability, and that the arthritis in question is more likely due to age-related changes, occupational or sports-related activities, repetitive knee stresses or activities, obesity, lifestyle, and genetic factors.

The Veteran was found to be eligible for a TDIU as of November 7, 2003 due to his back condition.

The Board has remanded the claims due to insufficient opinions regarding the etiology of the Veteran's low back and respiratory disabilities, as well as a need for further development on these issues.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded due to the need for additional examinations and development of his claims for service connection for lumbar spine, bilateral heel, and shin disorders.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities have not rendered him unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation during the period prior to December 6, 2012.