Back / lumbar spine Board decisions

The Board has determined that the Veteran's bilateral foot disorder, low back disorder and restless leg syndrome are related to her service-connected bilateral foot disorder. The decision grants these claims on a secondary basis.

The Board has remanded the case for a Travel Board hearing before a Veterans Law Judge of the Board.

The Veteran's current right knee disability, diagnosed as status post arthroscopy for Grade 3 chondroplasty of the medial facet of the patella and chondroplasty for Grade 1 chondromalacia of the tibia, was incurred during his active duty service. The Board finds that the criteria for service connection have been met.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's bilateral shoulder disabilities and low back disability are related to his military service, granting these claims. The left wrist disability claim is remanded for further development.

The Veteran's PTSD is found to be related to events during active service, and the claim for service connection is granted. The claims for hypertension, back disability, and blood disability are remanded due to lack of a Statement of the Case.

The Veteran's claims for service connection are being remanded due to the need for additional examinations and development of his medical records.

The Board has remanded the claims of service connection for right hip osteoarthritis, left hip osteoarthritis, low back degenerative joint disease, and a left Achilles tendon disorder to the RO via the Appeals Management Center (AMC), in Washington, DC.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including obtaining medical records and arranging for examinations to determine if the Veteran now suffers from a low back disability or a sciatic nerve disability, and whether these disabilities are related to his military service.

The Board has granted an effective date of May 13, 1971 for the grant of service connection for degenerative spurring of the lumbar spine and deformity of L3. The Veteran's claim was pending due to new evidence received within one year of his discharge from service, which established combat status and thus relieved him of the burden of proving in-service incurrence.

The Board found that there is no evidence to support a relationship between the Veteran's current respiratory and back conditions and his military service, thus denying both claims.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development due to an inaccuracy in the August 2011 VA medical examination report. The Veteran's current back condition is being evaluated again with consideration of all service records, including two occasions during service when he complained of back pain.

The Veteran's claim for a higher rating for thoracolumbar strain is being remanded due to the need for additional VA examinations and development of records.

The Veteran's appeals for an effective date earlier than July 11, 2005 for the award of service connection for plantar warts on both feet and for initial compensable ratings for plantar warts on both feet have been withdrawn.,The Veteran's appeals for an initial rating higher than 10 percent for residuals of patella replacement of the right knee with instability, a rating higher than 30 percent from August 1, 2007 for chondromalacia patella of the right knee, status post patella replacement, and an initial rating higher than 10 percent for disc protrusion L4-L5 with lumbar sacral junction disturbance have been withdrawn.,The Veteran's appeal for an initial rating higher than 10 percent for chondromalacia patella of the left knee has also been withdrawn.

The Veteran's service-connected bilateral knee disabilities and low back disability render him unable to secure or follow substantially gainful employment due solely to these conditions.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's thoracolumbar spine disability, diagnosed as lumbosacral strain, thoracolumbar strain, and minimal scoliosis, is related to service. The claim for service connection is granted.

The Board has remanded the claims of service connection for a back disability, neck disability, right shoulder disability, and hypertension due to inadequate VA examination records. The Veteran's file will be reviewed by a VA examiner who conducted previous examinations.

The Board has ordered a remand due to the need for an addendum VA examination and additional VA treatment records. The case will be reconsidered after these are obtained.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for PTSD, compression fractures of the low and middle back, degenerative disc disease, and a right leg disability secondary to his lower and middle back disabilities. The reasons were not provided in detail.

The Veteran's service-connected low back disability was increased to a 20 percent rating effective December 18, 2012. Prior to this date, the disability had been rated at 10 percent.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's current degenerative disc disease of the lumbar spine is at least as likely as not caused by his service, specifically an injury sustained during a fixed-wing plane crash in 1967.