Back / lumbar spine Board decisions

The Board has determined that the Veteran's bilateral plantar fasciitis and chronic low back disorder are not related to his service, and thus denied both claims.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities render him unable to obtain and maintain substantially gainful employment, warranting a TDIU.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including obtaining VA and private treatment records, scheduling a VA examination, and clarifying whether the appellant continues to receive treatment at Madigan Army Medical Center.

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 determined that the Veteran's GERD was not shown in service or for many years thereafter, and there is no competent evidence suggesting a relationship to service. Therefore, the claim for service connection for GERD is denied.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's degenerative disc disease of the lumbar spine is at least as likely as not aggravated by his service-connected knee disabilities, and thus grants service connection for this condition.

The Board has remanded the case due to the Veteran's failure to appear for a requested hearing. The case will be returned to the AOJ for further action.

The Veteran withdrew his appeal regarding the claim of service connection for a lumbar spine disorder. The remaining claims of service connection for fibromyalgia and irritable bowel syndrome are remanded for further development.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's cervical and lumbar spine disabilities are secondary to his service-connected thoracic strain with degenerative disc disease, and thus grants these claims.

The Veteran's low back strain has been rated at 40 percent since January 2014, effective October 12, 2012. The Board found that the current rating adequately reflects his disability level and symptomatology.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining VA treatment records and scheduling a new examination to address the nature and etiology of his claimed back, neck, and shoulder disabilities.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional examinations to determine the impact of his service-connected disabilities on his ability to work, and for consideration of extraschedular TDIU criteria.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining his vocational rehabilitation records and scheduling a VA social and industrial survey. The case will be reviewed by the AOJ after these actions are completed.

The Veteran's low back disability is rated at 20 percent, effective from the date of the decision. The claim for service connection for skin cancer was granted.

The Board denied service connection for a urinary disorder and service connection for a low back disability on direct basis. The Veteran's current low back disability is not related to injury or event in active service.

The Board found no evidence of a chronic lumbar spine disability in service or within one year following separation, and the only medical opinion evidence to address the etiology of any diagnosed lumbar spine disabilities weighs against the claim. The Veteran's psychiatric and respiratory disabilities were not shown during active service or for many years thereafter.

The Board has granted service connection for the Veteran's cervical and lumbar spine disabilities, finding that these conditions are at least as likely as not related to his active service.

The Board finds that the Veteran does not have a low back disability with associated nerve impairment that is related to military service or an event of service origin.

The Veteran's cervical spine disability was granted a 20 percent rating effective September 13, 2011. A separate 20 percent rating for left upper extremity neurological impairment was also granted.

The Veteran's appeal has been dismissed due to his death. The Board cannot proceed with the merits of the case as he is no longer alive.