Back / lumbar spine Board decisions

The Board has granted an initial rating of 10 percent for lumbar strain with degenerative changes, effective December 19, 2000. The Veteran's claim was reopened and service connection was established based on the evidence received after the February 1967 denial. An earlier effective date is not warranted.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's low back disorder is secondary to his service-connected left knee disability, and thus service connection for this condition is granted.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including obtaining SSA records and a VA examination to address the etiology of the Veteran's right knee and back disabilities.

The Veteran's appeal includes a claim for an increased rating for his service-connected low back strain and a request for an earlier effective date. The Board has remanded the case to allow for additional development, including scheduling of a VA examination and consideration of new evidence.

The Veteran's claims for service connection of a low back disability, increased evaluations for right and left knee patellofemoral syndrome, and an increased evaluation for bilateral pes planus were denied. The RO found that the evidence did not support granting these claims.

The Veteran requested to withdraw his appeal, which was dismissed by the Board.

The Veteran's claims for service connection and increased ratings were denied. The Board found that the preponderance of evidence was against a finding that any claimed conditions had their onset in or were related to service.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim of service connection for a back disability, finding that his current condition did not have its clinical onset in service and was not otherwise related to active duty.

The Board has remanded the case to the RO for further development, including obtaining VA treatment records and scheduling a VA examination. The Veteran's claim will be reconsidered based on the appropriate rating criteria.

The Board has determined that new and material evidence has been received to reopen the claim of service connection for a low back disorder. The Veteran's current low back disorder is found to be at least as likely as not due to his service-connected right and left foot disorders.

The Board found that the Veteran's current lumbar spine disabilities, including arthritis and degenerative disk disease, are not related to active duty service.

The Board has determined that the issues of entitlement to service connection for pulmonary fibrosis with oxygen dependence and sleep apnea as secondary to service-connected sinusitis are inextricably intertwined with the TDIU issue. The case is therefore being remanded for further adjudication.

The VA determined that the Veteran's current low back disorder is not related to his service and denied his claim for service connection.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded for further development, including a VA examination to determine the nature and etiology of any current right shoulder disability and whether it is related to his service-connected back condition.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded for further evaluation and determination regarding the provision of additional payment for woodworking tools under a Department of Veterans Affairs independent living services program.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's appeal for service connection for diabetes mellitus, bilateral defective hearing, inner ear disorder, disorders of the legs and hands, gynecomastia with residual scar, degenerative joint disease of the left shoulder, degenerative disc disease of the lumbar spine with compression fracture of the thoracic spine, and degenerative joint disease of the right great toe has been denied. The Veteran's appeal was withdrawn for the issue of higher evaluation for gynecomastia.

The Board denied service connection for the Veteran's claimed back, neck, bilateral foot, skin, BPH, and hypertension disabilities due to a lack of evidence showing their onset or etiology in service.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities have been shown to render him unemployable, and his claim for a total disability rating based on individual unemployability has been granted.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including VA examinations to determine the nature and etiology of any cellulitis of the right knee, low back disorder, and acquired psychiatric disorder. The RO will also obtain all relevant medical records.

The Board denied the Veteran's application to reopen his claim for service connection for DDD of the lumbar spine, finding that new and material evidence had not been submitted.