Back / lumbar spine Board decisions

The Board has determined that the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, right knee disability, left knee disability, and low back disability are related to his active duty service. As a result, these claims for service connection have been granted.

The Veteran's claim of entitlement to an increased rating in excess of 20 percent for a lumbosacral strain is on appeal and has been remanded by the Board. The issue remains unresolved as less than the maximum benefit allowed by law was awarded.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's low back disability was not incurred in or aggravated by active service and is denied.

The Board has granted an effective date of May 24, 2006 for the award of service connection for a lumbar spine disability. The TDIU claim is remanded as it may be impacted by this decision.

The Board found that the Veteran's lumbar spine disorder is not directly related to his military service and denied the claim for direct service connection. The issue of secondary service-connection is being remanded.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development to determine if the Veteran's current low back disability is related to service or a pre-service injury, and whether it was aggravated by events in service.

The Board has remanded the appeal for additional development due to inadequate opinions in the November 2014 VA examination report. The Veteran's claims for service connection are being referred back for further review.

The Board has granted service connection for the Veteran's cervical spine degenerative disc disease with secondary neck strain, finding that it is related to his active service.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection due to insufficient reasoning and lack of a VA medical opinion. The case is returned to the AOJ for further development.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development to determine the etiology of any current low back disorder and whether it is as likely as not incurred in or caused by active service.

The Board granted service connection for a low back disorder and an effective date prior to March 15, 2010, for the award of a compensable disability evaluation for chronic peptic ulcer with duodenal scarring. The Veteran's current diagnoses are supported by medical records, and there is credible evidence linking his in-service injury to his current condition.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not prevent him from securing and following substantially gainful employment, as his combined rating is 80 percent. The Board finds that the preponderance of evidence does not support a finding of unemployability solely due to these conditions.

The Veteran's claim for a rating in excess of 40 percent for lumbar disc disease beginning October 1, 2005 was denied. The Board found that the evidence did not show unfavorable ankylosis or incapacitating episodes meeting the criteria for a higher rating.

The Veteran's appeal for service connection for residuals of a left thumb fracture, left hand and ring finger pain, heart murmur, psychiatric disorder (including PTSD), bilateral knee disorder, bronchitis, and low back disorder has been denied as there is no current disability. The VA examiner found no evidence of abnormality of the left thumb.

The Veteran's claim for service connection of a scar of the right lower leg is granted. The Board finds that the Veteran incurred a scar during active duty and it is related to his in-service injury.

The Veteran's appeal involves multiple issues related to his service-connected disabilities, including ratings for degenerative disc disease of the thoracolumbar spine, traumatic brain injury (TBI), migraine headaches, and bilateral keratoconus. The case is being remanded due to the Veteran not appearing at a scheduled Board hearing.

The Board has ordered additional development due to missing VA treatment records and SSA disability file. The Veteran's claims for service connection will be reconsidered after the new evidence is obtained.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional VA examinations to assess the severity of his service-connected cervical and lumbar spine disabilities, as there was a communication error regarding periods of incapacitation during the last examination.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining medical records and scheduling VA examinations to assess the severity of her service-connected lumbar spine, left knee, right knee, and left wrist disabilities.

The Veteran's appeal is still pending and must be remanded to the RO for further development. The issues of service connection for a low back disorder and TDIU will be addressed after any outstanding records are obtained.