Back / lumbar spine Board decisions

The Board has remanded the case for a new VA examination to determine if the Veteran's back disability is related to his military service, and whether any right foot numbness during service was due to a spine issue. The Veteran also contends that his current back disability may be aggravated by his military duties.

The Board has granted service connection for bilateral hip disorders and a back disorder, finding that the Veteran's symptoms are related to his military service.

The Board has ordered a new VA examination to determine if the Veteran suffers from any current residuals of his pilonidal cyst, and whether any current back disability is etiologically related to or aggravated by the in-service pilonidal cyst. The case will be remanded for further development.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for hearing loss and low back strain have been denied. The Board found that the evidence did not support a higher rating for either condition.

The Veteran's claims are being remanded for additional VA examinations to evaluate the current severity and manifestations of his service-connected low back strain, left eye disability, and PTSD. The Veteran will be scheduled for a VA spine examination, a VA eye examination, and a VA mental disorders examination.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's right hip arthritis is at least as likely as not related to service, but his right shoulder and lumbar spine disabilities are not shown to be related to service.

The Board found no evidence of a current back disability and concluded that the Veteran's claimed back disorder is not related to his military service.

The Veteran's GERD, cervical spine strain, and lumbar spine strain have been rated at the maximum available rating of 30 percent for each condition. The appeal is granted.

The Board has determined that additional development is needed to substantiate the Veteran's claims for service connection of his back, neck, and hearing loss disabilities. The case will be remanded for further action.

The Board dismissed the appeal due to the Veteran's death, and no jurisdiction remains for adjudicating the merits of this claim.

The Board has determined that the Veteran does not have a current diagnosis of restless leg syndrome, lumbar spine disorder, right shoulder disorder, left ankle disorder, or residuals of fractured pelvis, to include bilateral hip disorder. Therefore, service connection for these conditions is denied.

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

The Veteran's claims for service connection are being remanded due to the need for a VA examination to determine if his current low back disability and symptoms of left hip, knee, and shoulder disabilities are related to active military service.

The Veteran's claims for service connection were denied, with the exception of his claim for a compensable rating for a left inguinal hernia. The remaining claims for bilateral pes planus and associated physical conditions, as well as a mood disorder secondary to those conditions, were also denied.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including obtaining relevant VA treatment records and scheduling a VA spine examination to determine if the Veteran's lumbar spine disability is etiologically related to service or his service-connected left knee disability.

The Board found that the Veteran's current back disorder was not incurred in or a result of his military service, and is not due to or aggravated by a service-connected disability.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for his thoracolumbar spine degenerative disc disease and strain, involuntary bowel movements, L5 dermatomal left leg pain and numbness, and erectile dysfunction were denied. The Board found that the evidence did not meet the criteria for a higher rating under the applicable VA rating criteria.

The Board found that the Veteran's current right knee, lumbar spine, and hip conditions are not related to his service. The claims for service connection were denied.

The Board has determined that additional development is needed to address the cause of death and the Veteran's service-connected conditions. The case will be remanded for further action.

The Veteran's claim for an initial compensable rating for hemorrhoids has been granted. Service connection for a respiratory disorder (claimed as asthma, bronchitis and COPD) is also granted. The left knee disorder and low back disorder are not service connected.