Back / lumbar spine Board decisions

The Veteran's appeal is dismissed due to the death of the Veteran, which has no jurisdiction over the merits of the claim.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for further development, including scheduling VA examinations and preparing an SOC regarding the issues of increased ratings and effective dates.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for left ankle and lumbosacral spine disabilities, finding that there is no evidence of a current disability related to service.

The Board has determined that additional development is necessary before the underlying claims can be adjudicated on the merits.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including new VA examinations to assess the severity of his service-connected lumbosacral strain and hypertrophic gastritis.

The Veteran's claim for an educational assistance benefits rate in excess of 60 percent under the post-9/11 GI Bill is denied as her only qualifying active duty service was less than 18 months and did not meet the criteria for a higher rating.

The Veteran's cervical spine disability was not productive of forward flexion to 15 degrees or less, nor did it result in favorable ankylosis. The assigned rating is appropriate as the disability has been stable and does not meet criteria for a higher rating.

The Board denied a higher initial rating for the Veteran's lumbar plexopathy with right lower extremity weakness prior to January 5, 2002 and denied a higher rating after that date.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim of service connection for a low back disorder, finding that his current condition is not etiologically related to his military service.

The Board has determined that new and material evidence has not been presented to reopen the claims for service connection for a back disability, an acquired psychiatric disorder, and a groin disability. The claims remain denied.

The Veteran's service-connected lumbar spine muscle strain with degenerative arthritis was rated at 10 percent prior to July 23, 2009 and granted a 20 percent rating from July 23, 2009 to October 14, 2010. The current effective date remains unchanged.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for a lumbar spine disorder and other service connection issues due to procedural errors, including failing to schedule a videoconference hearing.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss and lumbar spine degenerative disc disease were not found to warrant higher evaluations.

The Board has determined that new and material evidence has been received to reopen the claim of service connection for a low back disability. After review, the Board finds that there is at least equipoise evidence indicating that the Veteran's current back disability is related to his in-service symptoms and thus grants service connection for degenerative disc disease and lumbar spondylosis for accrued benefits purposes.

The Board has remanded the claims for further development due to inadequate medical opinions regarding secondary service connection.

The Veteran's degenerative disc disease of the lumbar spine is currently evaluated as 10 percent disabling prior to January 27, 2014. The Board finds that he does not meet the criteria for a higher evaluation.

The Veteran has withdrawn his appeal regarding the issue of entitlement to an initial disability rating in excess of 10 percent prior to January 19, 2013; in excess of 20 percent from January 19, 2013, to November 8, 2014; and in excess of 40 percent thereafter for degenerative disc disease of the lumbar spine.

The Veteran's grade 1 anterolisthesis of L5 on S1 lumbar is currently rated as 10 percent disabling, effective February 6, 2014. The Board finds that a higher rating is not warranted for any portion of the period on appeal.,For his bilateral tinea pedis, the Veteran's disability has been rated as noncompensable under Diagnostic Code 7806. The evidence does not show that the condition covers at least five percent of the entire body or exposed areas affected, and no intermittent systemic therapy is required.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's current low back disability, diagnosed as lumbar disc disease, is related to service and grants service connection for this condition.

The Veteran's claim for an initial rating in excess of 20 percent for bilateral spondylolysis fifth lumbar vertebra/first sacral vertebra with or without spondylolisthesis, status post decompression laminectomy and posterolateral spinal fusion at fifth lumbar vertebra/first sacral vertebra with hardware has been remanded due to the need for a travel board hearing.