Back / lumbar spine Board decisions

The Veteran's appeals for increased disability ratings and TDIU have been dismissed due to his withdrawal of the appeals.

The Veteran's lumbosacral strain with spondylosis and bilateral knee disorders are rated at the maximum allowed under VA guidelines. The Veteran is also granted a TDIU based on his service-connected disabilities.

The Board is remanding the case to obtain additional medical records and schedule a VA examination. The Veteran's claim for service connection for a low back disability will be considered on its merits, with new evidence potentially reopening the claim.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including a new examination to assess the severity of his low back disability and any associated bladder or neurological symptoms. The TDIU claim is also being remanded due to its inextricability with the rating issue.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining VA treatment records and scheduling the Veteran for a VA examination to assess his current knee disabilities.

The Board has determined that the Veteran currently suffers from a low back condition which had its onset in service, and thus service connection is granted for this condition. The issue of high blood pressure remains pending as it was not addressed by the RO.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for a back disability has been reopened and granted. The Board found new and material evidence to support the reopening of his claim, but did not provide an opinion on whether he is entitled to service connection for bilateral knee or hip disabilities as secondary to his back disability.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss, bilateral tinnitus, a chronic disorder manifested by low back pain, and hypertension. The evidence does not support a finding that any of these conditions are related to service.

The Board found no evidence of a current left hip disorder and concluded that the appellant's low back disorder with lower extremity radiculopathy is not related to her service. The claim for these conditions was therefore denied.

The Board has determined that additional development is needed to properly adjudicate the Veteran's claims of service connection for back and neck conditions.

The Board has remanded the case to the RO for additional development, including obtaining records of medical treatment during active duty in West Germany and psychiatric hospitalization at Fort Hood.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for lumbar spine, right shoulder, left shoulder, right knee, right lower extremity, and left lower extremity disabilities. The evidence did not establish that these conditions were incurred or aggravated by military service.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss is granted. The Board finds that the evidence is at least in equipoise as to whether the Veteran's current hearing loss was caused by service, including significant noise exposure during her military career.

The Veteran's appeal has been withdrawn prior to the Board making a decision.

The Veteran's appeal for a higher rating on his SP discectomy and lumbar fusion with degenerative disc disease of the lumbar spine has been withdrawn.

The Board has reopened the claims for service connection for a low back disorder and headaches, as new and material evidence has been received. The claim for service connection for headaches is granted.

The Veteran's claims for increased evaluations and service connection have been denied. The initial evaluations for the claimed conditions are not supported by the evidence of record.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for his low back disability, acquired equinus of both feet, and radiculopathy of the right lower extremity are being remanded due to a lack of recent VA examination records and potential need for further development.

The Board has found new and material evidence to reopen the Veteran's claims for service connection for right elbow disorder, bilateral wrist disorder, right arm injury, low back disorder, left elbow disorder, and neck disorder. The effective date of these decisions is not specified.