Back / lumbar spine Board decisions

The Veteran's appeal is denied. The Board finds that the effective date for the grant of service connection for right knee osteoarthritis cannot be earlier than May 5, 2008.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for a hearing at the RO. The issues are related to rating his disabilities of the right knee and lumbar spine.

The Board found that the Veteran's stomach disability is not related to his service-connected low back disability and denied both direct and secondary service connection for the stomach disability.

The Veteran's TDIU was granted effective March 16, 2004 for his service-connected depressive disorder. The appeal is about the effective date of this grant.

The Board has remanded the case for an addendum to a November 2010 VA spine examination, which should address whether the Veteran's service-connected degenerative joint disease of the knees has made his diagnosed low back disability chronically worse.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development due to outstanding VA treatment records.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded due to his failure to appear for scheduled hearings. His request for a rescheduled hearing has been granted.

The Veteran's service-connected back disability became so severe on July 1, 2000 that it made him unable to follow a substantially gainful occupation.

The Veteran's cervical spine degenerative disc disease is rated at 30 percent, effective from the date of decision. The Veteran's lumbar spinal degenerative joint disease was increased to 40 percent prior to November 8, 2012 and to 40 percent on and after that date.

The Veteran has withdrawn his appeal for an increase in the rating for degenerative disc disease with degenerative joint disease of the lumbar spine, and there are no further issues to be decided.

The Board found that the Veteran's current low back disorders did not have their clinical onset in service or within one year of service, and are not causally related to his active service.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including obtaining records from Dr. Banning and the VA Tennessee Valley Healthcare System, as well as attempting to obtain Social Security Administration records related to the Veteran's disability benefits claim.

The Veteran's claims are mixed, with some issues granted and others denied. The low back disorder is granted on the merits, while other claims remain pending due to lack of new and material evidence.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including a VA examination to assess the severity of his lumbar spine disability and whether he has radiculopathy. The Veteran should be provided with an opportunity to submit or identify any evidence that may assist him in substantiating his claims.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for increased evaluations for his cervical spine spur at C5, degenerative spurring of the lumbar spine at L3-L4 and residuals of left knee surgery with scar as there was no evidence showing that any condition warranted a higher evaluation.

The VA determined that the Veteran's low back strain does not warrant an evaluation in excess of 10 percent.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded due to the need for additional development, including obtaining SSA records and VA treatment records. The Veteran will also be provided an opportunity for a current VA examination regarding her service-connected lumbar strain and left ovarian cyst.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's degenerative disc disease of the lumbar spine had its onset in service and is therefore granted service connection.

The Board has determined that the reduction of the disability rating for bilateral hearing loss from 50 percent to 40 percent was not proper, and the 50 percent rating is restored.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for left leg numbness, paralysis, and radiculopathy, as well as lumbar spine disability, are being remanded due to the need for additional medical records and a new VA examination.