Back / lumbar spine Board decisions

The Board found that the evidence did not support a finding of service connection for a back disorder, as there was no credible evidence showing it had its onset in service or was otherwise causally related to service.

The Board has ordered additional development to determine if the Veteran's low back injury is related to his military service, including obtaining medical records from Dr. Sirchia and Sun City Hospital.

The Board has remanded the case for further development due to inconsistencies in duty status and medical opinions regarding service connection.

The Board denied service connection for the claimed hiatal hernia, low back disorder, arthritis of the bilateral shoulders, arthritis of the bilateral knees, and left shoulder disability. The claims were based on direct evidence rather than a presumption or secondary to another condition.

The Veteran's claim for a total disability rating based on individual unemployability (TDIU) was granted effective April 24, 2006. The criteria for TDIU were met as of that date due to the severity of his service-connected disabilities.

The Board finds that the evidence is in equipoise as to whether the Veteran's current back disability, diagnosed as lumbosacral degenerative disk disease with lumbar radicuopathy, postoperative, was incurred during service. The claim for service connection is granted.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded due to the need for additional development of his claims, including obtaining updated VA and private treatment records, as well as SSA disability records. The case will be returned to the Board after these developments.

The Veteran's claim for an increased initial evaluation of her lumbar spine strain has been remanded due to the need for additional development, including obtaining VA treatment records and private chiropractic records.

The Board has determined that new and material evidence has been received to reopen the claims of service connection for a right shoulder disability, a cardiac disability (claimed as chest pain), and a right knee disability. The Veteran's left knee disability is found to be incurred in service, while his back disability may not be presumed due to its lack of onset during service or within one year thereafter.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for additional development due to inadequate opinions in previous VA examinations and insufficient consideration of all submitted evidence.

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

The Veteran's disabilities do not render him so helpless as to require the regular aid and attendance of another person, thus he does not meet the criteria for special monthly pension based on need for regular aid and attendance.

The Veteran's appeal for service connection for hypertension was withdrawn. The claim for compensation under 38 U.S.C.A. § 1151 for a left knee disorder is denied as there is no evidence of an additional disability caused by participation in the VA compensated work therapy program. Service-connected degenerative disc disease of the lumbar spine remains rated at 20 percent.

The Veteran's appeal involves multiple issues related to his service-connected arthritis, including claims for increased ratings and a TDIU. The Board has granted secondary service connection for the low back disorder due to pes planus, but denied other claims.

The Board has remanded the case due to incomplete medical records and requests for additional evidence. The Veteran's claim for service connection for a thoracic and lumbar spine disability, including as secondary to his service-connected right and left knee disabilities, is being returned to the RO/AMC for further development.

The Board has determined that additional development is needed to properly adjudicate the Veteran's claims for service connection of bilateral hearing loss, degenerative arthritis of the lumbar spine, and right eye disability. The case is being remanded for further examination and opinion.

The Veteran's appeal has been withdrawn, and the case is dismissed.

The Board found that the Veteran's current left knee and low back disabilities are not related to his military service or a service-connected right knee disability. The evidence does not support a finding of direct service connection for these conditions.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings were denied. The lumbar spine disability was found to be manifested by pain and functional loss, but not ankylosis or incapacitating episodes lasting at least 6 weeks. For the left great toe and hallux valgus deformity of the first metatarsophalangeal joint, the disability was productive of mild to moderate symptoms prior to February 22, 2008 and severe symptoms from November 11, 2011 onwards. The second toe with metatarsalgia was found to be productive of mild to moderate symptoms since September 18, 2007.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection due to insufficient medical opinions regarding her claimed conditions and theories of service connection.