Back / lumbar spine Board decisions

The Board found that the Veteran's current back, right hip, and left hip disorders were not incurred in or aggravated by active military service. The claims for these conditions were denied.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's cervical spine, lumbar spine, and kidney disabilities were not incurred in or aggravated by service.

The Veteran withdrew his appeal for an increased rating for low back strain.

The Veteran's lumbar spine disability was granted an increased rating to 40 percent effective February 10, 2012. Service connection for degenerative joint disease of the lumbar spine was severed and service connection for a right leg disability was denied.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded due to the need for additional records and further examination. The initial disability rating for his lumbar spine condition remains at 10 percent.

The Board has reopened the Veteran's claims for right shoulder and lumbar spine disorders, finding new and material evidence. The diabetes mellitus claim is not on appeal.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded due to the need for additional development, including obtaining VA and private treatment records, as well as a new VA examination.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings and service connection were denied. The initial rating of 10 percent for bilateral tinnitus was upheld, as the disability is already at its maximum schedular level under Diagnostic Code 6260. A separate compensable rating for erectile dysfunction was also denied due to lack of penile deformity.

The Veteran's athlete's foot, pseudofolliculitis barbae, tinea versicolor of the back, and dermatophytosis of the groin have been granted service connection. The Veteran is currently rated at 10 percent for each condition.,The Veteran's low back disorder was initially granted in 2007 with a rating of 20 percent prior to November 16th, and has since been increased to 40 percent thereafter.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims of service connection for tinnitus, bilateral hearing loss, bilateral foot disability, and low back disability. The evidence did not show current disabilities or a link to service.

The Board found no evidence of a low back disability during service or within one year post-service, and concluded that the current condition is not related to military service.

The Veteran's service-connected low back strain and degenerative disc disease of the cervical and lumbar spine have been denied.

The Board found no causal relationship between the Veteran's current bilateral knee and back disabilities and his military service, thus denying both claims.

The Veteran's lumbar spine disability was rated at 40 percent from December 5, 2002. The appeal for a higher rating is denied as the condition did not meet criteria for an increased rating prior to that date.

The Board has decided to remand the case for additional development, including obtaining STRs and arranging for VA examinations to determine if any of the claimed disabilities are related to service, specifically National Guard duty.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection and special monthly pension due to his failure to provide necessary income verification forms as required by VA regulations.

The Veteran seeks service connection for arthritis of the lumbar spine, which he claims is related to his military service. The Board has ordered a remand due to inadequate opinions regarding the etiology and aggravation of the back disability.

The Veteran's lumbosacral spine disability was evaluated at 40 percent prior to May 12, 2011. The initial evaluation for left lower extremity radiculopathy was also granted at 10 percent.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for a total disability rating based on individual unemployability (TDIU) due to his service-connected lumbosacral strain and pulmonary tuberculosis, inactive with associated bronchiectasis of the right upper lobe.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for low back disability, finding that there was no evidence of a chronic condition in service and insufficient medical opinion to establish a link between current symptoms and service.