Back / lumbar spine Board decisions

The Board has remanded the case due to the Veteran's failure to appear at a scheduled Travel Board hearing. The appeal is now pending and will be heard again.

The Board has determined that the Veteran does not have a current disability for which service connection is sought, specifically bilateral hearing loss, low back disability, and bilateral knee disability. The claims are denied.

The Board has reopened the claim for service connection for a back disorder and finds that new evidence supports this reopening. The Veteran's vision disorder, however, is not supported by the evidence of record.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining updated medical records and scheduling a VA examination to assess the current severity of his lumbar spine multilevel degenerative disease. The TDIU claim is also inextricably intertwined with the rating issue.

The Board has found that new and material evidence has been received to reopen the claim of service connection for a low back disorder. The Veteran's degenerative disc disease (DDD) of the lumbar spine with arthritic changes is now considered service connected, as are her left lower extremity radiculopathy.

The Board has determined that additional efforts are needed to obtain the Veteran's service treatment records, which may be held by various entities including his Reserve units and hospitals in Korea and Japan. The case is therefore being remanded for these actions.

The Veteran's bilateral pes planus was noted at entry into service but not diagnosed or treated during active duty. The cervical and lumbar spine disabilities were not diagnosed until after separation from service, and the Board finds that there is insufficient evidence to establish a connection with service.

The Veteran's PTSD has been medically linked to service, and the Board finds that she is entitled to service connection for this disability. The low back disability rating remains at 40 percent.

The Veteran's lumbar vertebra fracture has completely healed and does not contribute to his current symptoms, limitations, or neurological deficits associated with nonservice-connected degenerative disc disease, stenosis, spurring, and residuals of herniated disc at L5-S1. The claim for an initial, compensable rating for lumbar vertebra fracture is denied.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for further development of the record, including obtaining VA and Vet Center treatment records, scheduling a VA examination to determine the nature and likely etiology of his back and knee disabilities, and scheduling another VA psychiatric examination to assess the severity of his PTSD.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded due to the need for a new VA examination and additional treatment records.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's claim for an effective date prior to January 31, 2003 for service connection of a low back disability is denied as there is no evidence of an earlier formal or informal claim filed prior to this date.

The Veteran withdrew his appeals for the issues of entitlement to a higher initial rating for coronary artery disease and an initial compensable rating for bilateral hearing loss prior to the Board's decision.

The Board finds that the preponderance of the evidence is against a finding that the Veteran has a mid-back disorder that had its onset in service, manifested within one year of separation from service, or is otherwise etiologically related to service. The claim for service connection for dementia and an acquired psychiatric disorder are remanded as additional development is needed.

The Board has decided to remand the case for additional development, including obtaining private treatment records and SSA disability benefits determination. The Veteran's low back disability is presumed to have pre-existed service but there is uncertainty about whether it was aggravated by service.

The VA examiner found no evidence of chronic low back condition during service and concluded that the Veteran's current minimal degenerative disc disease (DDD) at L3-L4 is not related to his military service.

The Veteran withdrew his appeals for all issues currently pending before the Board.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for further development of her claims, including obtaining VA treatment records and a medical opinion regarding the service connection claim.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for additional development, including obtaining a VA examination to determine the nature and etiology of any found right hip, bilateral knee, and back disability. The Veteran's service connection claims are also being remanded due to his claim of entitlement to a rating in excess 30 percent for left hip degenerative joint disease.

The Veteran's low back disability and associated radiculopathies have been granted service connection, with a 10 percent rating for each condition.