Back / lumbar spine Board decisions

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claim for service connection for bilateral hip disability and low back disability due to insufficient consideration of all potential claims raised by the medical evidence of record, as required by Clemons v. Shinseki, 23 Vet. App. 1 (2009) and Brokowski v. Shinseki, 23 Vet. App. 79 (2009).

The Board found no evidence linking the Veteran's current residual head injury scar or low back disorder to his military service, including an in-service fall. The Board determined that both conditions are more likely age and activity-related.

The Board finds the evidence is against a finding that service connection should be granted for a back disability, as there is no credible evidence of a chronic low back disorder or arthritis within one year of service and insufficient evidence linking current symptoms to service.

The Board has determined that additional development is necessary to address the Veteran's claims for service connection, including obtaining relevant treatment records and clarifying his exposure history.

The Board has remanded the case for further development, including obtaining missing service treatment records and scheduling a new VA examination to determine if the Veteran's current back disability had its onset in service or is related to his military service.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's lumbar spine disorder and acquired psychiatric disorder are not related to service, and thus denied both claims.

The Board has granted service connection for a back disability and determined that the Veteran meets the criteria for TDIU based on her combined rating of 70% due to multiple service-connected disabilities.

The Board finds that the Veteran does not have a low back disorder or bilateral knee disorder that is related to his active service. The preponderance of evidence is against these claims.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's low back disorder is not related to his military service and therefore denied his claim for service connection.

The Veteran's claim for an increased rating for his service-connected degenerative disc disease of the lumbar spine was denied. The Board found that, even with considerations of additional limitations due to pain and orthopedic factors, the Veteran did not experience forward flexion of the thoracolumbar spine 30 degrees or less, or ankylosis of the entire thoracolumbar spine, or incapacitating episodes lasting at least four weeks during any 12-month period. There is no separate neurological disability due to the lumbar spine degenerative disc disease.

The Veteran's appeal for a higher initial rating for his spondylolisthesis of the lumbar spine has been dismissed as he withdrew his appeal due to financial hardship and need to expedite processing of his TDIU award.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's claimed cervical spine, lumbar spine, bilateral shoulder, left hip, and left ankle disabilities are not related to service. The evidence does not show any in-service injury or disease resulting in these conditions.

The Veteran has withdrawn his appeal regarding the reopening of a claim for service connection for a lumbar spine disorder. As a result, the Board dismisses the appeal.

The Veteran's tinnitus is service-connected as it was present during active duty and has continued since separation.,The Veteran sustained a back injury in service, but the symptoms were not chronic at that time. However, he experienced continuous symptoms since separation.

The Veteran's appeal has been withdrawn due to his request to continue only on the issue of service connection for a left knee disability. The Board finds new and material evidence has been received to reopen this claim, but the issues of low back, hip/buttock, and ankle disabilities are dismissed as they were not part of the original appeal.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities prevent him from caring for most of his daily personal needs and protecting himself from hazards without the assistance of others, meeting the criteria for special monthly compensation based on need for regular aid and attendance.

The Board has remanded the case due to a hearing request not being scheduled. The Veteran is required to attend a hearing before a Veterans Law Judge at the RO.

The Board found that a chronic back disability was not incurred or aggravated as a result of active service and denied the Veteran's claim for service connection.

The Board has reopened the Veteran's previously denied claim for service connection for a low back disability and found that new and material evidence has been received. The claim is now considered on its merits.

The Veteran's claim for an initial evaluation in excess of 20 percent for degenerative disc disease (DDD) of the lumbar spine was denied as his disability did not meet or approximate the criteria for a higher rating under the applicable diagnostic code.