Back / lumbar spine Board decisions

The Board has reopened the Veteran's previously denied claim of entitlement to service connection for a low back disorder and is granting this claim. The new evidence submitted since the last denial supports the reopening of the claim, as it relates to an unestablished fact necessary to substantiate the claim (chronicity or continuity of low back problems since service).

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for low back disorder, residuals of cold exposure, arthritis, bilateral hearing loss, and tinnitus. The decision found no new and material evidence to reopen the claim for a low back disorder, and that there was insufficient evidence linking any current disabilities to service or service-connected conditions.

The Veteran's lumbar spine disability is rated at 40% effective October 16, 2009. The cervical spine disability does not meet the criteria for a higher rating.

The Veteran's appeals for increased ratings of his service-connected right and left thigh disabilities have been withdrawn. The case has now been remanded to determine the etiology of a low back disability.

The Veteran's death was not caused by a service-connected condition. The Board found that his diabetes mellitus, which he had been granted service connection for, did not contribute to his death.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for a low back disability and right elbow disability due to insufficient examination reports, lack of consideration of specific events during service (paratrooper jumps), and inadequate assessment of employment impact. The Veteran's claim is being returned to the RO for further development.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for initial compensable evaluations for tinea pedis, tinea corporis, and tinea cruris, as well as his increased initial evaluations for low back disorder. The appeal is dismissed.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's current lumbosacral strain with sciatica is related to his active military service, and thus grants the claim for service connection.

The Board has found that the Veteran's back disorder was not incurred in or related to his period of active military service. The claim for service connection is denied.

The Board has granted service connection for the Veteran's degenerative disc disease of the lumbar spine, finding that it is at least as likely as not related to his active military service.

The Board finds that the Veteran's low back disability was caused by his period of military service and grants service connection for a low back disability.

The Board found no evidence of current hearing loss, back, or knee disabilities for VA purposes and denied the Veteran's claims.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's low back disorder is service-connected, with reasonable doubt resolved in his favor. The right and left elbow conditions are not yet fully diagnosed or linked to service.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded for additional development, including obtaining vocational rehabilitation records and scheduling an examination to assess the impact of his service-connected disabilities on his employability.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining updated VA examination reports and relevant treatment records.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for right knee and low back disorders, as well as increased evaluations for left and right shoulder bursitis with impingement syndrome, are being remanded due to the need for additional development including VA examinations.

The Veteran's lumbosacral degenerative joint disease was granted an initial evaluation of 20 percent, effective from July 27, 2007. Bilateral hearing loss was not service-connected and thus no rating is assigned.

The Board dismissed the appeal because the appellant died during the pendency of the appeal, and thus has no jurisdiction to adjudicate the merits of this claim.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including scheduling a VA examination and obtaining outstanding medical records. The Veteran's claim for an initial evaluation in excess of 10 percent for his service-connected cervical spine disability is being considered.

The Veteran is granted service connection for a lumbar spine disability and denied service connection for PTB. The claim of new and material evidence to reopen the previously denied claim of service connection for a lumbar spine disability is also granted.