Back / lumbar spine Board decisions

The Veteran's cervical spine disability was rated at 20 percent prior to August 15, 2013 and increased to 20 percent thereafter. The Veteran's radiculopathy of the right upper extremity is not more than mild in nature.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining a VA examiner's opinion on the impact of his thoracolumbar spine disability on his employability and for any other necessary development. The case will be readjudicated after these actions.

The Board found that the Veteran does not have a low back condition that is etiologically related to his military service and therefore denied the claim for service connection.

The Veteran's current low back disability is not service connected as it did not manifest during or within one year after service and there is no evidence of a link between his military service and the condition.

The Board has remanded the case for further development due to new evidence and argument submitted by the appellant's attorney. The claim will be reviewed de novo after obtaining any outstanding VA treatment records from April 2014 to the present.

The Board denied an increased rating for the Veteran's lumbar spine disability and denied earlier effective dates for both his TDIU and the current 40 percent rating.

The Board found that the Veteran's low back disorder did not clearly and unmistakably pre-exist service, but was not incurred or aggravated by service. The current diagnosed condition is considered to be a result of natural progression of degenerative changes in the lumbar spine.

The Veteran's sinusitis and rhinitis have not met the criteria for a rating in excess of 10 percent, as he did not experience incapacitating episodes or significant nasal obstruction.,Tinnitus was not shown to be related to service.

The Board found that new and material evidence has not been submitted to reopen the claim for service connection for a low back disability, as it did not provide an unestablished fact necessary to substantiate the claim.

The Board has dismissed the appeals due to the appellant's withdrawal of these appeals.

The Board has reopened the claim for service connection for a low back disorder and granted service connection. The Veteran's right and left knee disorders, recurrent cysts behind both ears (claimed as ear drainage from the back of the ears), and sleep disorder are not supported by evidence showing they were incurred in or aggravated by service.

The Veteran's claims for service connection have been reopened, but the Board has not decided whether new and material evidence has been received to reopen each individual claim. The initial rating for depressive disorder remains denied.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's claimed low back and left wrist disabilities were not incurred or aggravated in service, and thus denied his claims for service connection.

The Board has granted service connection for diabetes mellitus, type II (diabetes), and denied the Veteran's claims of entitlement to service connection for bilateral hearing loss, bilateral tinnitus, and a low back condition. The decision is based on evidence showing exposure to herbicide agents during service at U-Tapao Royal Thai Air Force Base in Thailand.

The Veteran's claims for service connection of a right shoulder disability, a right hip disability, and a back disability are being remanded due to the need to obtain additional medical records and provide new examinations.

The Veteran's claims for service connection were denied as his claimed conditions did not manifest during active duty or due to undiagnosed illness.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for lumbar and cervical spine disorders, as well as a higher rating for her bilateral pes planus with plantar fasciitis, are being remanded due to the need for additional development including obtaining medical records and scheduling VA examinations.

The Board finds that the Veteran does not have a current cervical or lumbar spine disability that is related to service. The VA examiner opined that the Veteran's current neck and back conditions are not caused by or a result of service.

The Veteran's service-connected cervical and lumbar spine disabilities are each rated at 20 percent, but the Board finds that these ratings do not meet or more nearly approximate the criteria for a higher rating under the applicable VA rating criteria.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities have rendered him unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation, and the Board finds that he meets the criteria for TDIU.