Back / lumbar spine Board decisions

The Veteran's lumbosacral strain disability was rated at 10 percent prior to March 2, 2007 and increased to 20 percent effective from that date. The Board found the current rating of 20 percent is appropriate.

The Board has remanded the case for further development and consideration of all issues on appeal, including service connection claims and compensation under 38 U.S.C.A. � 1151.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for further development, including obtaining updated treatment records and scheduling a VA examination to assess the current severity of his bilateral hearing loss disability. Additionally, another VA examination will be scheduled to determine if the Veteran's currently diagnosed lumbosacral strain is etiologically related to his active duty service.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for his lumbar spine and lower extremity disabilities were denied. The Board found that the evidence did not support a higher rating.

The Board has granted service connection for a back disability and a right first metatarsal disability, both found to be related to the Veteran's service-connected conditions. Service connection for PTSD was not addressed in this decision.

The Veteran's lumbosacral spine strain is currently rated at 20 percent, effective from September 30, 2008. The Board has granted service connection for major depression and adjustment disorder under the theory of new and material evidence.

The Board has found that the Veteran's lower back disability was not aggravated by service and therefore denied his claim for service connection. The hearing loss disability is being remanded as the February 2011 VA examination opinion relied solely on the Veteran's normal separation hearing test, which may be inadequate.

The Board has granted service connection for the Veteran's thoracic and lumbar spine disorder, as well as his cervical spine disorder (including fibrositis and osteoarthritis of the cervical spine), both on the merits.

The Board determined that the Veteran's lumbar spine disorder is not service-connected and denied his claim, finding no medical evidence linking it to active duty or a service-connected condition.

The Board has ordered additional development of the Veteran's claims due to incomplete service records and a need for VA examinations.

The Board has granted the Veteran's appeals to reopen his claims for service connection for residuals of barotrauma and service connection for residuals of a barotrauma. The underlying claim for service connection is also granted, with the disability being found to have been incurred during active service.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining VA treatment records and scheduling the Veteran with a VA examination to address his service connection claims.

The Veteran's current thoracolumbar spine disability is found to be related to service, and the Board grants service connection for this condition.

The Board has remanded the case due to a technical malfunction during a previous hearing, and the Veteran requested another videoconference hearing. The appeal is now pending for further action.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD and depressive disorder, is related to his military service. Additionally, the Board found that the Veteran's low back condition had its onset during service.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities have rendered her unable to secure and follow a substantially gainful occupation, resulting in an award of TDIU. The Veteran also received a temporary total disability rating for surgery performed on December 22, 2009.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded to obtain additional medical records and for further development. The issues include rating his anxiety and depressive disorder, increased hearing loss disability, left ear hearing loss, cervical spine, lumbar spine, right knee, ischemic heart disease, and allergic rhinitis.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's current lumbar spine disorder and tinnitus are related to his military service, granting service connection for both conditions.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded for additional development, including obtaining updated VA treatment records and scheduling the Veteran for a VA examination to assess his service-connected degenerative joint disease of the lumbar spine with intervertebral disc syndrome. The claims are also remanded for an opinion on whether he has any acquired psychiatric disability related to service or aggravated by his service-connected condition.

The Board dismissed the appeal due to the death of the appellant, and thus has no jurisdiction to proceed with the merits.