Back / lumbar spine Board decisions

The Board has determined that additional development is needed to clarify the nature and etiology of the appellant's current back disability, including whether it was present prior to service. The secondary claims for shoulder disabilities and headaches will be held in abeyance pending a decision on the primary claim.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's low back disability, gastrointestinal disability, night sweats, and memory loss are related to his service in the Persian Gulf War. The claims for these conditions have been granted.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for increased ratings for her low back disability and associated bilateral lower extremity radiculopathies due to a lack of recent VA treatment records and an updated VA examination.

The Veteran's current lumbar spine disability, including left sciatica symptoms and spondylolysis with grade 1-2 spondylolisthesis, L5 on S1, is etiologically related to his active service. Service connection for this condition has been granted.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's low back, ankle, and hip disabilities are not service-connected as they were neither incurred nor aggravated by his military service.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded to the RO for a video conference hearing before the Board. The issues include seeking an extraschedular rating, service connection, and evaluations for various disabilities.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's current low back and bilateral knee disabilities are not related to service, and thus denied his claims for service connection.

The Veteran's appeal has been withdrawn, and thus the case is dismissed.

The Veteran's claim for higher ratings for lumbosacral degenerative disc disease is being remanded due to the need for additional examination and development of evidence.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's timely substantive appeal was received within 60 days of the issuance of the Statement of the Case, thus finding the appeal to be timely.

The Veteran's substantive appeal was not timely filed, and the Board has dismissed the appeal due to this jurisdictional issue.

The Veteran's claim for a bilateral eye disability was denied as there is no evidence of a current disability, and the self-reported diagnosis of welder's keratitis was not confirmed by medical examination.,The Veteran's claim for degenerative arthritis of T12-L1 (low back) was also denied as his condition did not manifest within one year of separation from service.

The Veteran's appeal involves three issues: a TDIU rating, SMC based on A&A, and the reconsideration of a July 2002 decision denying service connection for residuals of a fracture of L1 with stenosis and DDD. The case is being remanded due to the need for a hearing before a Veterans Law Judge.

The Board has decided to remand the Veteran's claims due to the need for additional VA treatment records between 2002 and 2005. The claims will be reconsidered after these records are obtained.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's current heart disorders are not related to service, and thus denied his claim for service connection. The claims for back disorder and acquired psychiatric disorder (likely PTSD) have been remanded due to insufficient evidence.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's low back disability does not warrant a rating in excess of 10 percent, as it does not meet or approximate the criteria for a higher evaluation under the applicable VA Rating Schedule.

The Board finds the reduction in the rating for a thoracic spine disability from 20 to 10 percent, effective from August 11, 2010, was proper based on improvement demonstrated by VA examination records.

The Veteran's claims for service connection have been denied, and the application to reopen a claim for service connection for a back disability has also been denied. The remaining claims are either not supported by new evidence or do not raise a reasonable possibility of substantiating the claims.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection due to issues related to his low back disability and pain due to scar tissue. The case will be returned to the Board for further review after additional development.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional examinations and to obtain updated medical records. The primary issues are the rating of his service-connected lumbar spine disability, as well as whether he has a right hip disorder that is secondary to his service-connected lumbar spine disability.