Back / lumbar spine Board decisions

The Veteran's claims for a higher rating and TDIU are being remanded due to the need for additional examinations and development of his service-connected lumbar spine disability.

The Board has reopened the claim for service connection of a low back disability, including degenerative disc disease. The evidence received since the August 2008 denial relates to an unestablished fact necessary to substantiate the claim and raises a reasonable possibility of substantiating the claim.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's current back disability is directly related to his military service and grants service connection for a lumbar spine disorder.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining VA medical records and scheduling the Veteran for appropriate examinations to determine the current severity of his service-connected disabilities.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's low back disability is proximately due to or the result of his service-connected right femur fracture, and thus grants service connection for this condition.

The Veteran seeks service connection for low back, right hip, and right knee disorders that he claims are secondary to his service-connected left knee disability. The Board finds the evidence raises a theory of entitlement on a secondary basis and remands for further examination.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for a back disability is being remanded due to the need for additional development, including obtaining his service personnel records and scheduling him for a VA examination.

The Veteran's hypertension and psoriasis were granted service connection. The lumbar spine disability, left hip disability, and right hand disability are also granted as direct service connection based on evidence of in-service onset or aggravation.

The Veteran's low back disability and hypertension have been granted service connection. The increased rating claims for PTSD, recurrent urolithiasis/kidney stones, left knee disability, and TDIU are pending.

The Board has determined that the VA examination was inadequate and remands the case for a new examination to determine if the Veteran's current lumbar spine disability is related to service.

The Veteran's claims on appeal are being remanded due to the need for additional development, including VA examinations and requests for Social Security Administration records.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for DDD of the lumbar spine and back strain has been granted, but an effective date prior to January 19, 2012 is not warranted. The issue of whether new and material evidence was received in order to reopen a claim for vertigo is withdrawn.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining VA treatment records and a vocational rehabilitation examination.

The Veteran's unauthorized medical expenses incurred on July 24, 2012 for severe low back pain due to a service-connected disability were approved as the emergency treatment was necessary and timely.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's low back disability is related to service and grants her claim for service connection.

The Veteran's lumbar spine disability was initially rated at 10% prior to January 12, 2011. After a remand and additional examination in October 2013, the rating was increased to 20%. The current effective date is not specified.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development to obtain medical opinions regarding whether the Veteran's current disabilities are related to injuries suffered while on active duty, or have been aggravated by service-connected disabilities.

The Board found that the Veteran's neck, upper back, and headache disabilities were not incurred in or aggravated by service. The VA examinations did not find a direct link to service, and the examiner opined that these conditions are less likely than not caused by or related to his service-connected disabilities.

The Veteran's claim for increased evaluations for his service-connected lumbar spine disability was denied. Prior to August 12, 2014, the disability did not meet criteria for a higher evaluation than 10 percent. As of August 12, 2014, it met criteria for a 20 percent evaluation.

The Veteran's claim for an initial compensable rating for bilateral hearing loss was denied. The Board found that the Veteran's hearing loss did not meet the criteria for a higher evaluation under VA's schedular guidelines. Service connection claims for back, respiratory, and hypertension disorders are also pending.