Back / lumbar spine Board decisions

The Veteran's claim for service connection for a thoracolumbar spine disorder is being remanded due to incomplete information regarding his duty status during the relevant timeframe and missing treatment records. The case will be re-adjudicated after these issues are addressed.

The Board has granted service connection for lumbosacral spine arthritis and sinusitis, finding that the Veteran's current conditions are related to his military service.

The Board has decided to remand the Veteran's claim for service connection of back spasms due to inadequate examination and lack of current disability evidence. The case will be returned for further development, including a VA compensation examination.

The Board has determined that additional development is needed to fully and fairly consider the Veteran's claims for service connection, including obtaining VA treatment records and a medical opinion regarding the etiology of his claimed conditions.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for further development, including obtaining medical records and scheduling a VA orthopedic examination to determine the nature and etiology of his current back disability.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for an effective date prior to December 10, 2009 for the grant of a total disability rating due to individual unemployability (TDIU) because it was not factually ascertainable that he was unable to obtain or maintain substantially gainful employment solely due to his service-connected disabilities in the year prior to December 10, 2009.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings and a total disability rating based on individual unemployability are being remanded due to the need for new examinations.

The Board found that the Veteran's right foot/leg still retains effective function, and thus does not meet the criteria for SMC under 38 U.S.C. § 1114(k).

The Board has determined that the Veteran's left knee and low back disabilities are related to his active service, including his service-connected right knee disability. The VA examinations have provided conflicting opinions regarding whether these conditions were directly caused by or aggravated by his service-connected right knee disability.

The Board has granted service connection for a left hand laceration and failed low back syndrome, finding that the Veteran's current conditions are related to his in-service injuries. The claim for residuals of a left hand injury was reopened due to new evidence showing residual scarring from an in-service injury.

The Board denied service connection for hypertension, low back disorder, skin disorder affecting the face and body, sinus disorder, memory loss disability (claimed as dementia), and joint aches (also described as fibromyalgia).

The Board has remanded the case for further development and consideration, including a hearing before a Veterans Law Judge.

The case is being remanded due to incomplete records and the need for further development.

The Veteran's claim for a higher rating for his service-connected degenerative bone and disc disease of the lumbar spine with spondylolisthesis was denied as there is no evidence of unfavorable ankylosis of the entire thoracolumbar spine.

The Veteran is service-connected for multiple disabilities, including coronary artery disease and diabetes mellitus. The Board finds that the Veteran's service-connected conditions render him unable to secure or follow substantially gainful employment due solely to his disabilities.

The Veteran's appeal was partially withdrawn, and the remaining issues of service connection for lumbar spine disability, psychiatric disorder (including PTSD, anxiety, and depression), tinnitus, and ear condition were remanded for additional development.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for allergic rhinitis and an initial compensable rating for lumbar spine degenerative joint disease (back disability) due to a lack of evidence showing current disabilities.

The Board found that the Appellant's current low back disability is not related to his injury during active duty for training (ACDUTRA) and denied his claim for service connection.

The Board finds that the Veteran does not have any residual scars from fragment wounds to the back, and thus service connection for this condition is denied.

The Board has reopened the claim of service connection for a skin rash and remanded it for further development. The Veteran's claims for other conditions are also remanded.