Back / lumbar spine Board decisions

The Board denied service connection for a back condition as secondary to the Veteran's service-connected fractured pelvis in November 1999. The decision is not considered clear and unmistakable error.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including an examination and verification of the Veteran's service records. The Veteran is seeking to establish service connection for a low back disability.

The Veteran's claims for service connection are being remanded due to the need to determine whether his National Guard service was federal or state in nature. The hearing loss disability claim is also being remanded as a new opinion is required from a VA audiologist.

The Veteran's claims for back disability, left ankle disability, and diabetes mellitus are being remanded due to the need for additional development including verification of service dates, VA examinations, and obtaining SSA records.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities result in his requiring assistance with a number of his activities of daily living (ADLs) and require care or assistance on a regular basis to protect himself from hazards or dangers incident to his daily environment, warranting SMC based on aid and attendance.

The Board has remanded the case due to the Veteran's request for a Travel Board hearing at the RO.

The Veteran's claims for service connection have been denied.,The Veteran's claim for an initial rating in excess of 10 percent for a bilateral knee disability has been denied.,The Veteran's claim for an initial rating in excess of 10 percent for a left hip disability and GERD has been granted with an initial rating of 10 percent.,The Veteran's claims for service connection have been denied.,The Veteran's claim for an initial rating in excess of 10 percent for a skin disability has been denied.,The Veteran's claim for service connection has been denied.,The Veteran's claim for an initial rating in excess of 10 percent for a left ankle disability has been denied.,The Veteran's claim for service connection has been granted with an initial rating of 40 percent.

The Board denied all issues on appeal, including entitlement to increased ratings for the dry eye syndrome and service connection claims for various shoulder, knee, and back disorders. The denial of new and material evidence in reopening left and right shoulder disorder claims was also upheld.

The appeal has been dismissed as the appellant's authorized representative withdrew the appeal prior to a decision being made.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for degenerative disc disease and facet joint arthritis, lumbosacral spine has been granted. The issue of sleep apnea is remanded as the statement of the case was not issued.

The Veteran's appeal has been withdrawn, and the case is dismissed.

The Board denied service connection for low back and left leg disorders, finding that the Veteran's conditions were not incurred or aggravated by active service and were not related to a service-connected disability.

The Board found that the Veteran's claimed disabilities, including right knee disability, left knee disability, back disability, left elbow disability, right hand disability, and left hand disability, were not incurred or aggravated by service. The claims for these conditions are denied.

The Veteran's DDD of the lumbosacral spine is currently rated at 40 percent, and there are no findings indicating ankylosis or incapacitating episodes. The current rating adequately reflects the severity of his disability.

The Veteran's service-connected lumbosacral strain, degenerative disc disease, and post-operative interbody fusion L4-5 and L5-S1 have been rated at 60 percent since March 3, 2001. The Board has determined that the disability is no more than 60 percent disabling.

The Board found no clear and unmistakable evidence to rebut the presumption of soundness at the time of entry into service. The Veteran's back disability is not attributable to any event, injury or disease during service.

The Board found that the Veteran's service-connected degenerative disc disease of the lumbar spine does not meet or approximate criteria for a disability rating higher than 40 percent.

The Board has ordered a remand to obtain additional medical opinions regarding the Veteran's low back disability, including whether it is related to service. The case will be returned for further development and readjudication.

The Veteran's appeal has been dismissed as the appellant withdrew their appeal prior to a decision being made.

The Board found that the Veteran failed to report for scheduled VA examinations and did not provide a credible explanation. The claim for an increased rating for back disability was denied as there is no evidence of hospitalization or exceptional/unusual circumstances, and the preponderance of the evidence does not support a finding of service connection for left knee disability.