Back / lumbar spine Board decisions

The Board has remanded the case for several reasons, including clarifying whether the Veteran desires new representation and scheduling a videoconference hearing. The claims of service connection for lumbar spine disability and bilateral lower extremity radiculopathy, as well as the claim for TDIU, are pending.

The Board finds that the Veteran's current low back disability is not related to his in-service injury, and thus service connection for degenerative disc disease and arthrosis of the lumbar spine is denied.

The Board has remanded the case due to the need for a new VA examination and additional development of records.

Service connection for arthritis in the hands is not granted as there is no evidence of such condition during service or within one year thereafter.,The claim to reopen the matter of service connection for bilateral hearing loss is denied as new and material evidence has not been received that relates to an unestablished fact necessary to substantiate the claim (no noise exposure in service).,The claim to reopen the matter of service connection for a back disability is denied as new and material evidence has not been received that relates to an unestablished fact necessary to substantiate the claim (no current chronic back disability shown).,New and material evidence has been received to reopen the matter of service connection for a left ankle disability. The Veteran now has a diagnosed left ankle osteoarthritis.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including a VA spine examination to determine the nature and etiology of the Veteran's claimed lumbar spine disability. The issue on appeal is service connection for a lumbar spine disability.

The Veteran's tinnitus is found to be related to active duty service. The issues of bilateral hearing loss, mechanical low back pain, and residual scar of an excised ganglion cyst of the left wrist are addressed in the REMAND portion.

The Veteran's active duty service was less than 90 days during the Persian Gulf War era, and he did not meet eligibility requirements for VA home loan benefits based on his Selected Reserve service due to a discharge for failing medical fitness standards.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining medical records and scheduling a VA examination.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded due to the need for additional records and further development of his claim.

The Board found that the Veteran's pre-existing low back disability was not aggravated by service and denied his claim for service connection. The radiculopathy of the left lower extremity is attributed solely to the Veteran's back disability, which also resulted in denial.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's DJD of the lumbar spine warrants a disability rating of 20 percent, effective April 1, 2010.

The Veteran's headaches, right ear disabilities, left ear disease, and back disability are service-connected. The effective date for the increased rating of 20 percent for the back disability is set at April 19, 2006.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection and TDIU, finding that his service-connected disabilities did not render him unemployable prior to December 1, 2004.

The Veteran's claim for special monthly pension based on the need for aid and attendance or being housebound was denied as she does not meet the criteria for such benefits due to her ability to care for herself and lack of any service-connected disabilities rated at 100%.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for cervical and lumbar spine disabilities, as well as his claim for an effective date earlier than March 7, 2013 for the grant of service connection for right ear hearing loss. The Veteran was granted service connection for right ear hearing loss with a noncompensable rating effective from March 7, 2013.

The Veteran's appeal has been withdrawn, and the case is dismissed due to lack of jurisdiction.

The Veteran's service-connected lumbar spondylosis and mechanical back pain of the lumbar spine has been rated at a 60 percent disability rating since April 27, 2007 due to incapacitating episodes having a total duration of at least six weeks during the preceding 12 months.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for further development, including personal assault PTSD claims and VA audiological examination.

The Board has granted service connection for right knee, right ankle, and back disabilities. The Veteran's left knee disability is rated at 10%.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded due to the need for additional development, including obtaining SSA records and scheduling a VA examination.