Back / lumbar spine Board decisions

The Board found that the Veteran's current right and left knee degenerative arthritis, as well as his thoracolumbar spine degenerative arthritis and disc disease, are related to his service-connected residuals of cold weather injury to the right and left lower extremities. The claims were granted.

The Board has determined that the Veteran is entitled to a rating of 40 percent for his lumbar spine disability since October 6, 2009. The effective date remains pending further review.

The Board has remanded the case due to incomplete development of records and need for a VA examination. The Veteran's claim for service connection for a back disorder is pending.

The Board found that the preponderance of the evidence is against the Veteran's current claims for service connection for low back, bilateral knee, and right hip disorders. The Veteran did not provide sufficient medical or other credible evidence to substantiate his claims.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for his claimed conditions, finding that they were not proximately due to or the result of a service-connected left knee disability.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims due to new evidence received after a final decision, and for further examination of his back and neck disorders.

The Board has reopened the claim of service connection for a back disorder, but did not decide whether it was related to service due to lack of new and material evidence. The Veteran's failure to appear for a VA examination does not affect this decision.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining Social Security Administration records and a VA examination to assess the severity of his service-connected lumbosacral strain.

The Board has reopened the claim of service connection for a low back disability and granted it, with an effective date prior to September 1969. The Veteran's current diagnosis of degenerative disc disease is found to be related to his military service.

The Veteran's lumbosacral strain is currently rated at 40 percent, but the evidence does not meet the criteria for a higher rating as there is no unfavorable ankylosis of the entire thoracolumbar spine or incapacitating episodes having a total duration of at least six weeks in the past twelve months.

The Board has reopened the claims for service connection for bilateral shoulder disability and skin disability, but denied reopening of the claim for back disability. The Veteran's skin condition is related to service by way of aggravation, while his bilateral shoulder disability does not appear to be related to service.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's back and left ankle disabilities are not service-connected as they did not begin during or within a year of his period of active duty, and there is no evidence linking these conditions to his military service.

The Board has found that the necessary development of evidence was not completed and has ordered further action to obtain missing service treatment records and schedule a VA examination.

The Veteran's claims are being remanded for additional development, including obtaining medical records and scheduling a VA examination.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining SSA records and VA treatment records. The issue of entitlement to a TDIU due to service-connected disabilities is also raised by the record.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for back disability, finding that it was not incurred or aggravated during service and is not related to his right knee disability.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for a low back disability and an acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD. The Veteran did not meet the minimum criteria for TDIU due to a service-connected disability.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for osteoporosis of the cervical spine, thoracolumbar spine, left knee, and right knee were denied as there is no evidence that warrants a higher evaluation based on current symptomatology.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including obtaining relevant VA treatment records and confirming which 'Mercy' facility treated his back in 1963 and 1971.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including degenerative disc disease of the lumbar spine and bilateral lower extremity radiculopathy, render him unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation.