Back / lumbar spine Board decisions

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including low back disability and radiculopathy of the right and left legs, did not preclude him from securing and maintaining substantially gainful employment prior to January 23, 2007.

The Board has determined that new and material evidence has not been presented to reopen the claims for service connection for back disability, neck disability, bilateral hearing loss, or kidney cancer.

The case is being remanded to the RO for scheduling a Travel Board hearing at the Los Angeles VARO. The Veteran's appeal will be handled in an expeditious manner.

The Veteran's service-connected right knee disability has been rated as 10 percent for limitation of flexion and 0 percent for limitation of extension. The Board found that the evidence did not support ratings in excess of these percentages.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining updated VA treatment records and conducting new examinations to assess his bilateral hearing loss, lumbosacral strain, and PTSD.

The Veteran's claims for bilateral hearing loss disability and an increased rating for his shell fragment wound of the right lumbar area were denied. The claim for PTSD was not addressed in this decision.

The Veteran's claim for an increased rating for his service-connected degenerative arthritis of the lumbar spine has been granted, with a current disability rating of 40 percent. The issue of entitlement to TDIU remains on appeal.

The Board found that the Veteran's motor vehicle accident, which resulted in his back disability, was due to willful misconduct and therefore not incurred in line of duty. As a result, service connection for the back disability cannot be granted.

The Board has determined that the reduction of the Veteran's disability rating from 40 percent to 20 percent for his degenerative disc disease of L4-L5 and L5-S1 was proper, effective November 1, 2009. The Veteran is not entitled to a higher disability rating.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded for a more contemporaneous examination to evaluate the current severity of his degenerative disc disease of the lumbar spine.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining updated VA and private treatment records, as well as scheduling the Veteran for appropriate VA examinations to assess her current low back and right hip disabilities.

The Board has found that additional development is required before the Veteran's claim of entitlement to service connection for lower back disability can be decided. The case is REMANDED to obtain medical records, schedule a VA examination, and readjudicate the claim.

The Board has determined that new and material evidence has not been submitted to reopen the claim of entitlement to service connection for a lumbar spine disability, and thus the claim remains denied.

The Veteran withdrew her appeal for an increased evaluation for low back pain before the Board could make a decision.

The Board has reopened the Veteran's claims for service connection for right shoulder, low back, left leg, and right leg disabilities. However, these claims are being REMANDED to obtain additional information from the Veteran regarding his factory job in 1982 and to schedule appropriate VA examinations.

The Veteran's cervical spine disability is currently rated as 30 percent disabling, the maximum rating assignable for limitation of motion. The Board finds no evidence of unfavorable ankylosis or other conditions that would warrant a higher rating.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including obtaining service treatment records and a medical opinion regarding the etiology of the Veteran's lumbar spine and sciatic nerve disabilities.

The Board has reopened the claim for service connection for a right ankle disorder and granted service connection for tinnitus. The claims of service connection for bilateral hearing loss, right index finger disorder, left ankle disorder, headache disorder (migraines), and back disorder are denied. Service connection for hemorrhoids is not addressed in this decision.

The Board has determined that additional evidence is needed to fully and fairly consider the Veteran's claims, including obtaining medical records from specific providers and examining his current disabilities.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for right and left sciatic nerve impingement, diagnosed as sacroiliitis, and low back disability, diagnosed variously as sacroiliacs and low back strain. The Board found that there was no evidence of a nexus between these conditions and service or any service-connected disabilities.