Back / lumbar spine Board decisions

The Board found that the Veteran's current low back disability and bilateral knee disabilities are related to his service, granting service connection for both conditions.

The Board has reopened the claim for service connection of a low back disorder and finds that new evidence supports this reopening. The Veteran now has chronic low back pathology, which was not shown at the time of the prior denial.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining VA treatment records and scheduling the Veteran for a VA examination to determine if his current right hip, left hip, or low back disability may be secondary to his service-connected bilateral knee disabilities.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's tinnitus and back disability did not have onset during service or are otherwise related to military service.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including obtaining updated medical records and scheduling a VA examination to address the Veteran's claims.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims of service connection for various conditions, including knee disabilities, foot disability, hearing loss, and eye disability. The decision also noted that the Veteran did not meet the criteria for a compensable rating for his right ear hearing loss.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional examinations and to obtain recent VA treatment records. The case will be readjudicated after these actions.

The Board has determined that further development is necessary before a final decision can be rendered with respect to the Veteran's claims for service connection for low back and left leg/knee disabilities. The case is being remanded to obtain SSA records, ensure VA examination, and readjudicate the claims.

The Board has determined that new and material evidence has been received to reopen the Veteran's claim for service connection for a back disorder. However, after reviewing all available evidence, including VA treatment records and an examination report, the Board finds that there is no medical nexus linking any current back disorder to service or any incident therein.

The Veteran's claim of competency is being remanded for further development due to conflicting evidence on his mental capacity. A new VA examination will be conducted to reassess whether he is competent to handle his financial affairs.

The Board found no evidence to support the Veteran's claims for service connection of asthma, cervical spine disability, and back disability. The criteria for these conditions have not been met.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for a video conference hearing before the Board of Veterans' Appeals.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for a back disability and bilateral hip disability, finding no new and material evidence to reopen the claim for a back disability and concluding that the bilateral hip disability is not related to any service-connected condition.

The Board granted a higher initial rating of 20 percent for the Veteran's degenerative disc disease, lumbar spine, effective November 17, 2008.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's current low back disability, diagnosed as degenerative joint disease of the lumbar spine, is related to an in-service injury and granted service connection for this condition.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for neuropathy and degenerative disc disease of the thoracolumbar spine were denied. The Board found that the current 10 percent rating adequately reflects the severity of these conditions.

The Veteran's claim for an increased rating for his service-connected back disability was denied. The current evaluation of 40 percent disabling is maintained.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for a chronic low back disability and a chronic prostate disorder, finding that there was no evidence of in-service injury or disease related to these conditions. The examiner opined that it is less likely than not that the current disabilities are linked to his military service.

The case is being remanded for further development, including obtaining additional VA treatment records and scheduling a VA examination to assess the severity of the Veteran's lumbar spine disability.

The Veteran's claim of entitlement to service connection for carpal tunnel syndrome of the left hand has been reopened and granted. The Board finds that there is sufficient evidence to establish a current disability, as indicated by medical records showing carpal tunnel syndrome. The Board also found that the Veteran's current condition is related to his period of service.