Back / lumbar spine Board decisions

The Veteran's claim for service connection for a low back disability is denied as there is no credible evidence of a current low back disability or any link to his military service.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's cervical spine disability, including degenerative disc disease and mild degenerative joint disease, is not caused or aggravated by his service-connected right knee disability. Therefore, the claim for secondary service connection is denied.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's right knee and low back disabilities are not service-connected, as they are not at least as likely as not caused or aggravated by his service-connected left knee disability.

The Board has remanded the case for further development due to non-compliance with prior remand directives.

The VA examiners found that the Veteran's low back disability and calcaneal spurs were not caused or aggravated by his service-connected bilateral knee disabilities.

The Veteran withdrew his appeal regarding the issue of entitlement to service connection for a back disorder.

The Board has reopened the claim of service connection for a left knee disorder and granted it. The Veteran's contentions, along with VA treatment records, private medical records, SSA records, and his testimony at hearings, have been considered in determining that there is new and material evidence to reopen the claim.

The Board has determined that further development is needed to obtain the appellant's missing service treatment records and his service personnel records, as well as to clarify the dates of any back injury in service. The appellant will also be scheduled for VA examinations to determine the nature and etiology of his skin and respiratory disabilities.

The Board found no credible evidence of a neck injury in service, and thus denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for his cervical spine disability. The low back disability claim was reopened due to new evidence suggesting it may have preexisted service.

The Veteran's appeals for increased ratings for lumbar spine degenerative disc disease, left and right lower extremity radiculopathy have been dismissed as the Veteran withdrew his appeal.

The Board has reopened the Veteran's claim of service connection for a low back disorder and granted it, finding that new and material evidence had been submitted to support the claim.

The Veteran was granted an initial compensable rating for his degenerative joint disease of the thoracolumbar spine prior to February 9, 2009. From that date until July 18, 2011, he received a 10 percent rating. After that period, he was awarded a 40 percent rating.

The Veteran's claims for increased disability ratings for lumbar strain and disc disease, as well as right L3/L4 radiculopathy are being remanded due to the need for additional development including obtaining medical records and scheduling a VA examination.

The Board has remanded the claims for additional development due to a need for follow-up requests of private medical records.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for a back condition is being remanded due to the need for further evidentiary development, including obtaining medical records and scheduling a VA examination.

The Board has remanded the case to the RO for a hearing at the RO before a Veterans Law Judge.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded due to the need for a Travel Board hearing at the RO. The issues of service connection and rating for various conditions are still pending.

The Board has ordered a new VA examination to determine if the Veteran's current low back disorder is related to service, and if so, whether it began during service. The case will be remanded for further review.

The Veteran's TDIU claim is being remanded for additional development as the prior examination report was inadequate and did not address the impact of his service-connected disabilities in combination on his employability.