Back / lumbar spine Board decisions

The Board has determined that new and material evidence has been received to reopen the Veteran's claim for service connection for a low back disorder. The Board finds that the Veteran's current low back disorder is related to his military service, and thus grants service connection effective July 27, 2009.

The Board has remanded the claims due to missing service records and the need for further development, including obtaining additional medical evidence and scheduling VA examinations.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded to obtain his old claims file, locate any relevant VA treatment records, and schedule a VA audiological examination. The issues of service connection for lumbar spine disorder with associated bilateral lower extremity radiculopathy, left hip disorder, and stomach/gastrointestinal disorder are being addressed on remand.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient evidence regarding the Veteran's back condition and its relation to service. The Veteran is requested to provide a complete accounting of his periods of active duty for training (ACDUTRA) and inactive duty for training (INACDUTRA).

The Board has remanded the case due to incomplete records and requests for additional information from the Veteran. The claim will be reconsidered after all relevant evidence is obtained.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for a back condition was reopened and granted. The claim for service connection for a neck condition was denied. The Veteran's initial disability rating for coronary artery disease, status post five bypass surgeries, was increased to 60 percent.

The Board granted service connection for a mood disorder with depressive features and increased the rating to 70 percent effective October 15, 2012. The Veteran's other claims were either denied or not addressed in this decision.

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The Board found that the Veteran's claimed conditions did not have their onset during service or are otherwise related to his period of active duty. The claims for service connection were denied.

The Veteran's initial ratings for his back and neck disabilities prior to specific dates were denied. The Veteran was not granted a compensable rating for his left knee disability or bilateral foot disability.

The Board has remanded the case to obtain updated VA treatment records, including MRI of the lumbar spine and cystoscopy. The Veteran's claims for service connection will be reconsidered based on this new information.

The Veteran's service-connected osteomyelitis and related conditions contributed to his death from sepsis, meeting the criteria for DIC based on service connection.

The Board found that the Veteran's left flatfoot, allergies, and back conditions did not clearly and unmistakably pre-exist service or were not aggravated by service. Therefore, service connection for these conditions is denied.

The Veteran's low back disability is currently rated as 10 percent disabling under the General Rating Formula for Diseases and Injuries of the Spine. The Board finds that a higher rating is not warranted based on the evidence provided.

The Veteran's claim for a higher rating for his service-connected degenerative disc disease of the lumbar spine was denied. The VA determined that the condition did not meet criteria for an increased rating beyond the current 40 percent.

The Veteran's low back and leg pain are not service connected as they are not shown to be related to his military service.,There is no current evidence of a disability manifested by leg pain.

The Veteran's appeal has been withdrawn by his representative before the Board could make a decision.

The Board found that the Veteran's cervical spine disability, to include degenerative disc disease, did not manifest during service or within one year of separation from service and is not attributable to an event in service. Therefore, service connection for this condition is denied.

The Veteran withdrew his appeal concerning the reopening of his claim for a low back condition, and thus the case is dismissed.

The Board has granted service connection for sleep apnea, finding that the Veteran's current symptoms are related to his in-service snoring and turbinate swelling. The other issues on appeal have been remanded for additional development.