Back / lumbar spine Board decisions

Service connection is denied for diabetes mellitus, type II, a prostate disorder, ischemic heart disease, hypertension, and left knee degenerative joint disease as the evidence does not support these claims. Service connection was previously denied for tinea pedis in 1973, and new and material evidence has not been received to reopen this claim.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's current low back disability, including associated right hip symptoms, is related to an injury sustained during service. The claim for service connection for the right hip arthritis is also granted.

The Veteran's claims for low back, left ankle, and left knee disabilities are being remanded due to the need for additional VA examinations and consideration of outstanding VA treatment records.

The Veteran's degenerative disc disease of the cervical spine is likely related to service, and the Board has granted service connection for this condition. The issues regarding headaches and migraines are addressed in the REMAND portion.

The Board found that the Veteran's low back disorder was not incurred or aggravated by his active service and denied his claim for service connection.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection due to inadequate examination reports and insufficient reasoning in previous decisions.

The Board has determined that the current VA examination is inadequate and further evaluation of the Veteran's lumbar spine disability, including consideration of additional range of motion loss due to pain, flare-ups, incoordination, or weakened movement, is necessary. The claim will be remanded for this purpose.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's service-connected low back strain and left knee reconstruction surgery do not warrant disability ratings in excess of their current assigned ratings.

The Veteran's appeal has been withdrawn prior to the Board issuing a decision.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's lumbar spine disability is not related to his military service and therefore denied his claim for service connection.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for a bilateral knee disorder and a back disorder are being remanded due to the need to confirm an in-service accident and obtain additional medical opinions.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for additional development due to incomplete records and need for medical opinions regarding his cervical and lumbar spine disabilities.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's myofascial lumbar syndrome is service connected, but denied a compensable rating for his allergic rhinitis from May 10, 2008.

The Board has remanded the case to the RO for additional development due to insufficient reasoning in a previous decision regarding service connection for a low back disability.

The Board found that the Veteran's lumbar spine disorder existed prior to his service and was not permanently aggravated by service, thus denying service connection.

The Veteran's service-connected low back disability renders him unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation, and the Board has granted TDIU.

The Veteran's service-connected right foot disability is manifested by pain, swelling, and redness. He has slight instability of the knees. The RO granted his claims for service connection for various conditions including hypertension, low back disability, joint pain, memory loss, chest pain, skin disorder, left foot disorder, and respiratory disorder.

The Veteran's migraine headaches are currently rated at 30 percent disabling from August 25, 2011. His lumbosacral strain with osteophytosis is currently rated at 10 percent.

The Veteran's bilateral pes planus has been rated as 30 percent disabling since August 6, 2013. The Board finds that the symptoms warrant a higher rating prior to this date.

The Board finds that the Veteran's right knee disability, diagnosed as degenerative joint disease (DJD) status post arthroscopy with partial medial meniscectomy, is secondary to his service-connected right ankle disability. The preponderance of evidence does not show that the Veteran had presumptive exposure to herbicides, including Agent Orange, nor is there probative evidence of exposure to such. As for diabetes mellitus type II, the Board finds that the preponderance of the evidence does not support a finding of service connection due to presumed exposure to herbicides.