Back / lumbar spine Board decisions

The Board has determined that the veteran's bilateral flatfeet and back disability are not etiologically related to service or service-connected knee disability.,As a result, the claims for service connection for these conditions have been denied.

The Veteran's service-connected chronic lumbar spine sprain was rated at 10 percent prior to September 26, 2003. The rating was increased to 40 percent from September 26, 2003 to August 31, 2009, and then reduced back down to 20 percent effective September 1, 2009.

The Board has granted a TDIU effective June 16, 2008. The Veteran's service-connected disabilities are the primary reason for his inability to secure or follow substantially gainful employment.

The Board has determined that the evidence is in equipoise regarding whether the Veteran's current back disorder is related to his service, and thus grants service connection for a back condition.

The Board has determined that there is no competent and credible evidence of a low back disability or tinnitus having its onset in service, and thus the Veteran's claims for service connection are denied.

The Veteran's appeal was dismissed due to the death of the appellant during the pendency of the appeal.

The Veteran's service-connected musculoskeletal low back pain with sciatic neuropathy is currently rated at 20 percent, but the evidence does not support a higher rating.,Separate ratings of 10 percent each are assigned for neuropathy of the right and left lower extremities due to the service-connected low back disability.,The Veteran's irritable bowel syndrome and GERD do not meet the criteria for a separate rating in excess of 10 percent.,There is no evidence that the Veteran's anterior lipomas, fusion of the right foot and ankle, right leg reflex sympathetic dystrophy, chronic nerve pain of the right leg, or atrophy of the right leg are related to her service-connected low back disability or other service-connected conditions.,Service connection for these conditions cannot be established.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded due to his failure to appear at a scheduled hearing before the Board of Veterans' Appeals. The case will be returned to the RO for further action.

The Veteran's ischemic heart disease is presumed to have been incurred due to active service exposure to Agent Orange. The Board has granted service connection for this condition.

The Board has reopened the claim for service connection for a right knee disorder but remanded it to the RO for further development. The issues of service connection for low back, gastrointestinal, psychiatric, and dental disorders are also being remanded.

The Board has decided to remand the case for further development, including obtaining additional service treatment records and VA medical records.

The Veteran's claim for an effective date prior to August 29, 2009, for the award of individual unemployability (TDIU) was denied as he had been gainfully employed until that date.

The Veteran's low back pain worsened and he sought private medical treatment at the Cape Canaveral Hospital on June 12, 2006. The treatment was authorized under emergency care provisions of VA regulations.

The Veteran's claim for service connection of a low back disorder is being remanded due to the need to obtain additional inpatient hospital records and conduct further medical examination.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for a videoconference hearing before a Veterans Law Judge at the RO.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for right ear hearing loss was denied as his current level of hearing did not meet the criteria to be considered a disability under VA regulations. The claim for service connection for low back disorder was also denied.

The Veteran's low back pain and sleep apnea are related to his service.,A higher initial evaluation for PTSD is granted.

The Veteran seeks an increased rating for his service-connected lumbar spine disability. The Board has determined that a remand is necessary to obtain updated VA examination and consider the TDIU claim.

The Board found that the Veteran's disability did not warrant a 40% evaluation as of July 1, 2007 and restored part of his award to a 20% rating effective July 1, 2007.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's left hip and low back disabilities are not related to his active duty service.,Service connection for a bilateral knee disability on a secondary basis is denied as there is no evidence of an in-service injury or nexus with the current condition.