Back / lumbar spine Board decisions

The Board has granted service connection for a low back disability and reopened the claims of service connection for hip disability and pulmonary disorder (to include bronchitis and asthma). The Veteran's current diagnoses are considered to be related to his in-service treatment.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded due to the need for additional development of his VA medical records.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's neck and low back disabilities were not incurred in or aggravated by service, and therefore denied his claims for service connection.

The Veteran's appeal for service connection for the residuals of malaria has been withdrawn, and therefore no further action will be taken on this issue.

The Veteran's service-connected lumbar spine disorder was granted a staged increase, with the initial rating of 20% from September 9, 2008 to February 17, 2011 and a final rating of 40% effective February 17, 2011. Separate ratings for left and right lower extremity radiculopathy were also granted.

The Board has determined that the Veteran withdrew his appeal regarding service connection for diabetes mellitus. For the back disability, the claim is denied as there is no evidence of a chronic disease in service or continuity of symptomatology post-service.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including obtaining SSA records and scheduling the Veteran for appropriate examinations to determine if any current psychiatric or back disabilities are related to his military service.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development to address the relationship between his service-connected PVD and his claimed lumbar spine disability, including whether it initially manifested during service or as a result of an in-service disease, event, or injury.

The Board granted a 40 percent rating for the Veteran's lumbosacral strain with spondylolysis of L5 and spondylolisthesis, effective from April 23, 2013. The Veteran was previously rated at 20 percent prior to that date.

The Board has determined that the Veteran does not have a current lumbar spine disability that is related to his active military service.

The Veteran's low back disability was not shown to be related to service, and the Board found no evidence of additional heart attack or psychiatric disability resulting from VA treatment. The Veteran does not have any service-connected disabilities.,VA did not find that the Veteran's current conditions were caused by hospital care, medical or surgical treatment provided under 38 U.S.C.A. § 1151.

The Board found clear and unmistakable evidence that the Veteran's lumbosacral disability preexisted service, and was not aggravated by service. As a result, the claim for service connection is denied.

The Board has granted the Veteran's petition to reopen his claim for service connection for a stomach disorder. The underlying question of whether he is entitled to service connection for this condition will be addressed in a separate remand.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities rendered him unable to care for his daily needs without requiring the regular aid and attendance of another person, warranting special monthly compensation based on the need for aid and attendance.

The Board has granted the Veteran's claim for service connection for a low back disability, finding that the evidence is at least in equipoise as to whether his current condition is related to his active military service. The appeal was reopened and the claim was then granted.

The Board found that the Veteran does not have diagnosed low back, right shoulder, or right hip disabilities and thus denied her claims for service connection.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded due to the need for additional service treatment records and an examination. The issues of entitlement to service connection for back disability, bilateral hip disability (secondary), and bilateral foot disability (secondary) are on appeal.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for further development to determine the appropriate disability ratings of his service-connected lumbar spine and bilateral lower extremity disabilities.

The Board has determined that additional development is needed to obtain the Veteran's treatment records and to provide a VA examination. The appeal will be remanded for these actions.

The Board granted a 20 percent rating for the Veteran's lumbar spine disability, effective March 22, 2011. The claim for TDIU remains pending.