Back / lumbar spine Board decisions

The Board has determined that the Veteran's service-connected disabilities prevent him from securing and following a substantially gainful occupation, thus granting his claim for TDIU.

The Board has reopened the Veteran's claim for service connection for a lower back condition and has determined that new and material evidence has been received. The Board has also found that the Veteran's current lower back disorder is related to his active military service.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for additional development, including obtaining a VA examination to address his service connection claims and reviewing the claims file. The Veteran seeks service connection for a back disability and varicose veins.

The Veteran's appeal for an increased disability rating in excess of 20 percent for service-connected thoracolumbar spine degenerative disc disease has been dismissed due to the death of the Veteran during the pendency of the appeal.

The Veteran's TDIU and SMC at the (s) rate are granted effective from July 23, 2008 to November 15, 2012, and June 23, 2013 respectively.

The Board has reopened the Veteran's claims for service connection for right hand and wrist, right shoulder, left knee, and low back disabilities. The claims are granted in part as new and material evidence was received to reopen them. Service connection is not established for any of these conditions.

The Veteran's tinnitus was caused by his active service, to include noise exposure therein. The Board finds the Veteran's reports of tinnitus during service and continuity of symptomatology since service credible and grants service connection for tinnitus.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded to determine if service connection for cervical/thoracic spine and carpal tunnel syndrome disabilities should be granted, as these conditions may impact her TDIU claim. The RO must also obtain VA medical opinions regarding the severity of her service-connected disabilities and their impact on employment.

The Veteran's DDD and lumbosacral stenosis are currently rated at 20 percent, the maximum schedular rating available for this condition. The Board finds that a higher rating is not warranted as his disability does not meet or approximate criteria for a higher rating under any applicable diagnostic code.

The Board has granted service connection for multilevel cervical spondylosis and DDD. The low back disability claim is remanded as the VA examiner's opinion was insufficient.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's lumbar strain is service-connected, but his degenerative joint disease of the cervical spine is not.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's low back disability and right leg radiculopathy are related to service, while his left hip and knee disabilities may be related to service or a separate incident. Service connection is granted for these conditions.

The Board has remanded the case due to incomplete records and requests for additional information from SSA.

The Board has granted service connection for a lumbar strain, but the effective date is set at September 8, 2011 as this was the earliest date of receipt of a claim.

The Veteran's claim for service connection is being remanded due to the need to obtain and associate VA treatment records from Detroit, Michigan. The claims will be reconsidered based on all available evidence.

The Veteran's hearing loss claim was denied. His left knee disability received a noncompensable evaluation, while his lumbar spine arthritis and GERD were both denied service connection.

The Board is remanding the Veteran's claims for additional development, including obtaining medical records and providing explanatory information regarding new and material evidence.

The Board found that the Veteran's lumbar spine osteoarthritis is not caused or made worse by his service-connected right knee degenerative joint disease. The claim for an increased rating for right knee disability was also denied.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for a bilateral ankle disability and an initial rating in excess of 10 percent for low back strain. The Veteran did not have a bilateral ankle disability, and his low back disability was manifested by forward flexion greater than 60 degrees; combined range of motion of the thoracolumbar spine greater than 120 degrees but not greater than 235 degrees; no muscle spasm or guarding severe enough to result in an abnormal gait or spinal contour; and mild radiculopathy of the right lower extremity. The Veteran's low back disability did not meet the criteria for a higher rating.

The Board has granted service connection for the Veteran's back disability, finding that it is directly related to his military service.