Back / lumbar spine Board decisions

The Veteran's tinnitus was found to have originated in service, and the Board granted service connection for this condition. The low back disability issue is pending as it has been remanded.

The Board has determined that the appellant's service-connected lower back disability and its residuals render him unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation, meeting the criteria for a TDIU rating.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for further action, including scheduling an electronic hearing before a Veterans Law Judge.

The Veteran's claims for higher rating of chronic lumbosacral strain and service connection for bilateral hip and leg conditions were denied. The claim for TDIU was granted.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's lumbar spine disability is related to his service-connected peripheral neuropathy, and thus grants service connection for this condition. The cervical spine disability is found to be aggravated by a service-connected condition (peripheral neuropathy), but not caused or aggravated by service or service-connected conditions.

The Board found that the Veteran's service-connected low back disability does not meet or approximate the criteria for a rating in excess of 40 percent, as there is no evidence of unfavorable ankylosis of the entire thoracolumbar spine or intervertebral disc syndrome with incapacitating episodes lasting at least six weeks during a twelve month period.

The Board has determined that additional development is needed to determine the nature and etiology of any left shoulder disorder, right shoulder disorder, lumbosacral spine disorder, left ankle disorder, right ankle disorder, and right knee disorder. The case will be remanded for these purposes.

The Veteran's claim for an earlier effective date for service connection of spondylolisthesis, L-5, with associated low back pain is denied as the earliest possible effective date is October 30, 2003.

The Board has decided to remand the claims for further development due to insufficient evidence regarding the etiology of the Veteran's low back disorder and respiratory impairment. The claims will be reviewed again after additional information is obtained.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded to obtain additional VA treatment records and for a comprehensive examination of his lumbar and cervical spine conditions.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for a left knee disorder and shell fragment wound residuals of the back are being remanded due to the need for additional examinations.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for a low back disability, finding that there was no credible evidence of continuity of symptomatology and no relationship between any current low back disability and his military service.

The Veteran's claimed conditions were not incurred or aggravated by his military service, including active duty for training and inactive duty for training. The Board finds no evidence of a nexus between the current disabilities and service.

The Board has granted the Veteran's claims for service connection for a lumbar spine disability and right hip disability as secondary to his service-connected bilateral pes planus and metatarsus varus. The claim for service connection for a left hip disability remains pending.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including obtaining VA and private treatment records, as well as clarifying opinions from a VA examiner regarding service connection for a low back disability.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for a total disability rating based on individual unemployability due to service-connected disabilities (TDIU). The appeal is remanded for further development.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for cervical and lumbar spine disabilities were denied. The Board found that the evidence did not meet the criteria for a higher rating under the applicable VA rating schedule.

The Veteran's claims for an effective date earlier than April 17, 2001, for the award of a total disability rating due to individual unemployability (TDIU) and Dependents' Educational Assistance (DEA) benefits were denied.,There was no evidence of a claim or increase in disability prior to April 17, 2001, which is when the Veteran's informal claim for an increased rating for his service-connected knee disorder was received.

The Veteran's low back disability was rated at 10 percent prior to August 11, 2010 and increased to 20 percent thereafter. The TDIU claim is granted.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss and a low back disability are being remanded due to the need for additional development, including obtaining SSA records and VA treatment records.