Back / lumbar spine Board decisions

The Board has reopened the previously denied claim for service connection of a low back disorder and granted it, finding that new evidence received since the last final denial relates to an unestablished fact necessary to substantiate the claim (the absence of which was the basis of the previous denial). The Veteran's current low back disability is found to be related to his in-service injury.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development and a Travel Board hearing at the RO.

The Board has determined that additional development is needed to ensure all relevant evidence is considered in the claims for service connection. The Veteran's right knee and back disabilities are being remanded for further examination and consideration.

The Board has denied the veteran's claim for service connection for a low back disorder, including a herniated disc, as a residual of an injury. The appeal is not about service connection at all.

The Board found that the Veteran's current back disability is not related to his military service and denied his claim for service connection.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for increased evaluations and service connection, finding that the evidence did not meet the criteria for a higher rating or service connection.

The Board has determined that the service-connected lumbar spine arthritis and the medication taken to alleviate its symptoms contributed substantially and materially to the Veteran's death, leading to his abdominal aortic aneurysm which required surgical repair. As such, the claim for service connection for the cause of the Veteran's death is granted.

The Veteran's claim for TDIU is being remanded due to changes in his disability picture and the need for additional examination.

The Board has ordered additional development to obtain medical records and opinions related to the Veteran's service connection claims, increased rating claims, and anemia. The case will be remanded for these purposes.

The Veteran's claim for a separate compensable rating for numbness of the right lower extremity is denied as it is not related to his service-connected traumatic arthritis, lumbosacral spine.,The Veteran's claim for an initial compensable evaluation for scar, status post resection, left fifth metatarsal and excision of plantar wart is denied due to lack of objective evidence of limitation or instability.

The Veteran withdrew his appeals in a June 2013 statement, thus the appeals are dismissed.

The Veteran's appeal has been withdrawn by his representative before the Board could make a decision.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for additional development due to incomplete VA treatment records and inadequate medical opinions.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development due to newly obtained service treatment records. The issues of service connection for bilateral hearing loss, low back disability (secondary to left knee disability), and right knee disability (secondary to left knee disability) are pending.

The Board has determined that new and material evidence has been received to reopen the claim of service connection for a low back disorder. The Veteran's low back disability is causally related to his military service, and the Board finds in favor of granting service connection.

The Veteran's lumbar spine disability is currently evaluated at a 10 percent rating, which is the maximum schedular evaluation available under Diagnostic Code 5243 for degenerative arthritis of the spine. The Board finds that the evidence does not support an increase in this rating.

During the period on appeal, the appellant's low back syndrome did not meet the criteria for a higher rating than 10 percent.

The Veteran's claim for a rating in excess of 40 percent for lumbosacral strain was granted, while the claim for lumbar radiculopathy of the left leg received a 10% rating. The hypertension claim is pending and referred to the RO.

The Veteran's claim for a rating in excess of 20 percent for left trochanteric bursitis with lumbosacral intervertebral disc syndrome is being remanded due to the need for additional VA medical records.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's current degenerative joint disease of the lumbar spine with chronic lumbago and right sciatica is related to his active duty military service, resolving all doubt in favor of the Veteran.