Back / lumbar spine Board decisions

The Board has remanded the case for further development due to administrative error, and the Veteran's representative was not provided access to the claims folder.

The Veteran's appeals for increased ratings for migraine headaches, thoracolumbar spine DJD, and cervical spine DJD have been withdrawn.

The Board has remanded the case due to incomplete medical records and an inadequate VA examination. The Veteran's claim for service connection for a low back disability will be reviewed after obtaining additional information from his former primary care physician and any relevant treatment records.

The Board has granted service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus, finding that these conditions are related to noise exposure during active military service. Service connection for a low back disability was denied as the current condition is not etiologically related to active service.

The Veteran withdrew her appeal for a rating in excess of 20 percent for cervical degenerative disc disease with neck strain from appeal.

The Board denied the Appellant's claims for earlier effective dates for increased ratings and TDIU due to lack of factual ascertainability.

The Board has determined that further development is needed to address the Veteran's claims for service connection for low back and right knee disabilities, as they may be secondary to his service-connected left knee disability. The case is being remanded for an additional opinion from a VA examiner.

The Board has granted service connection for a scar on the palm of the right hand. The Veteran's current right hip and back disabilities are being remanded due to insufficient evidence.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's current back and neck disabilities are not related to his active service. The evidence does not show any chronic injury or disease during service, nor do symptoms of these conditions manifest since separation from service.

The Veteran's DDD was granted with a 10 percent initial evaluation effective April 7, 2008. Service connection for hypertension was denied.

The Veteran's claim for a higher initial rating for his service-connected lumbosacral spine disability was denied. The current rating of 40 percent is maintained.

The Board found that the Veteran's lumbosacral strain with arthritis does not meet or approximate the criteria for a disability rating in excess of 40 percent, as he did not have ankylosis. The current evaluation is therefore denied.

The Veteran's claims for service connection were denied as there is no evidence of a chronic disability manifested by gastrointestinal problems, sleep impairment, joint pain (other than fibromyalgia), or low back disability that was incurred in active service.,There are no objective indications of chronic disabilities resulting from undiagnosed illnesses or medically unexplained multisymptom illnesses.

The Veteran's claims for higher initial ratings for lumbar degenerative disc disease and left leg radiculopathy were granted, with a 40 percent rating assigned for the latter condition.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including obtaining a medical opinion regarding whether the Veteran's low back disorder is related to service or aggravated by his service-connected knee disorders.

The Veteran's claim for a higher disability rating for her lumbosacral spine condition was denied. The Board found that the evidence did not support a rating greater than 20 percent.

The Veteran's appeal for service connection of a low back disability was dismissed due to the death of the Veteran during the pendency of the appeal.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, effective February 24, 2010, have rendered him unable to secure and follow substantially gainful employment.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for low back, right hip, and shortened right leg disabilities are being remanded due to the need for additional development.

The Board finds that the Veteran does not have a current diagnosis of a right upper extremity neurological disability and thus, service connection for this condition is denied.