Back / lumbar spine Board decisions

The Board has determined that new and material evidence has been received to reopen the claim of entitlement to service connection for a low back disability. The reopened claim is granted, as the Veteran's current low back disability is related to his active service.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded to the RO for a new hearing before a Veterans Law Judge at the St. Petersburg, Florida RO.

The Board denied service connection for a lumbosacral spine disability and erectile dysfunction, and continued the current ratings for headaches (10%) and prostatitis (20%). The Veteran's claims for increased ratings were also denied.

The Veteran's claim for an increased rating for his low back disability was denied, and the Board found that he did not meet the criteria for a higher rating under the applicable diagnostic codes. The issue of entitlement to TDIU due to service-connected disabilities is remanded for further development.

The Veteran's claim for increased ratings and service connection for headaches, radiculopathy, neuropathy, right knee disability, bilateral ankle and hip disabilities, arthritis (bilateral toes), skin disability, left knee patellofemoral syndrome, and headaches was granted. The Veteran is currently rated 30% for his service-connected headaches.

The Veteran's low back, right shoulder, bilateral hip, and left foot disabilities are being remanded for further examination and opinion to determine if they are secondary to his service-connected right knee disability.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities did not render him unable to obtain and maintain substantially gainful employment at the time of his death, thus denying entitlement to TDIU for accrued benefits purposes.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded due to scheduling issues for a Board hearing before a Veterans Law Judge at the RO.

The Veteran's appeal of the initial ratings for PTSD and degenerative disc disease of the thoracolumbar spine has been dismissed due to his withdrawal of the appeal.

The Veteran does not have service connection for hearing loss, tinnitus, gastrointestinal disorder, or low back disorder as his claims are denied.

The Board has reopened the claim for service connection of a low back disability and granted it, finding new and material evidence to support the claim. The Veteran's lay statements regarding in-service injury and continued pain since service are considered credible.

The Veteran's claims for increased evaluations for his lumbar spine and pelvic disabilities were granted, with the lumbar spine disability receiving a 40 percent evaluation.

The Veteran's appeal for a TDIU is being remanded due to the inadequacy of the September 2010 VA examination and the need for an opinion regarding his employability.

The Veteran's chronic low back sprain is not productive of unfavorable ankylosis of the entire thoracolumbar spine or incapacitating episodes having a total duration of at least 6 weeks during the past 12 months, and therefore, his claim for a disability rating in excess of 40 percent for this condition has been denied.

The Veteran seeks service connection for a back disability, which he contends first manifested in service after a physical altercation. The case is REMANDED to obtain additional VA treatment records and schedule the Veteran for a VA examination to determine the nature and etiology of his currently diagnosed back disability.

The Board has remanded the case for further development due to incomplete records and for obtaining additional information from the appellant.

The Board found that the reduction of the Veteran's low back disability rating from 40 percent to 20 percent, effective March 1, 2008, was proper.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for an earlier effective date for TDIU, finding that he did not meet the criteria for such a change in his disability rating.

The Board has granted service connection for a low back disability, but the Veteran's claim of entitlement to TDIU is remanded as it requires assignment of a disability rating first.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development due to insufficient reasons and bases in the August 2011 decision denying service connection for a back disorder. The Veteran's lay statements, as well as those of his wife and friend, were not adequately explained by the Board.