Back / lumbar spine Board decisions

The Board has granted service connection for a back disorder, but denied service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus due to lack of evidence linking these conditions to active duty service.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded due to the need for additional examinations and records.

The Veteran's low back disability is currently rated as 10 percent disabling, and the Board finds that a higher rating is not warranted based on the evidence of record.

The Board has determined that further examination and development are necessary to properly adjudicate the Veteran's claims for service connection for osteoarthritis of the lumbar spine and radiculopathy of the bilateral lower extremities.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded for additional development, including obtaining VA treatment records and scheduling a VA examination to assess the severity of his thoracolumbar spinal condition. The TDIU claim is also inextricably intertwined with this issue.

The Board has granted service connection for right ankle and low back disabilities, as well as DJD other than of the lumbar spine. The Veteran's claims for residuals of a head injury, DM, and an acquired psychiatric disorder are remanded.

The Veteran's claims for service connection and initial ratings have been granted. The Board found that the Veteran has keloids on his chest and back, right ear hearing loss, degenerative disc disease of the lumbar spine, gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD), posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD), right hip bursitis, left hip bursitis, right knee bursitis with chondromalacia, bilateral flat feet with degenerative changes of both feet, and stress related headaches. The Veteran's service connection claims are granted as his conditions are found to be at least as likely as not related to his military service.

The Board has granted the Veteran's request to reopen his claim for service connection of a back disorder and will now consider the merits of the case. The Veteran is entitled to VA examination to determine if his current back condition is related to his military service.

The Board has found that the Veteran's DDD/DJD of the lumbar spine is service-connected, as it was manifested during active duty and is related to his in-service injury. The issues of diabetes mellitus, hypertension, CAD, and MS are remanded for further development.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's cervical spine, right wrist carpal tunnel syndrome, left wrist carpal tunnel syndrome with radiculopathy and left arm numbness, and left shoulder disability are not related to service.

The Board finds that the Veteran's chronic low back disability, including peripheral neuropathy of the lower extremities and paraplegia, was not caused or aggravated by service-connected conditions. The current symptoms are not linked to service.

The Board has decided to remand the Veteran's claim for service connection of a back disability due to new evidence submitted by the Veteran, including private medical opinions linking his current condition to an in-service injury. The case will be returned to the AOJ for further development and consideration.

The Board found that the Veteran's back disability is not related to service and denied his claim for service connection. The psychiatric disability was also denied, with the examiner finding no current diagnosis of PTSD or other chronic acquired psychiatric disabilities.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded to obtain additional medical records and for further development. The primary issue is whether the Veteran can establish service connection for degenerative disc disease of the lumbar spine, which may be secondary or aggravated by his service-connected post-operative osteochondritis dissecans of the right patella.

The Veteran's claim for a higher rating for the residuals of his nephrectomy with partial adrenalectomy was denied as there is no evidence of renal dysfunction or decrease in kidney function.

The Board has ordered a VA examination to determine the nature and etiology of the Veteran's back disability. The case is now REMANDED for further development.

The Board found that the Veteran's current left knee and low back disabilities are not related to his active service, with no aggravation of a pre-existing condition during service.

The Board has remanded the claims for additional development, including obtaining VA and private treatment records, verifying service dates, and scheduling a VA examination. The Veteran's claims will be reconsidered after all available evidence is obtained.

The Veteran's mechanical low back pain is rated at 30 percent, and he has a separate rating of 10 percent for radiculopathy of the bilateral lower extremities. The Board finds service connection for a cervical spine disability secondary to his service-connected mechanical low back pain.