Back / lumbar spine Board decisions

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for right ankle sprain, right knee strain with arthritis, and lumbosacral arthritis and sacroiliac dysfunction with right radiculopathy were denied. The RO found that the Veteran did not meet the criteria for higher disability ratings under applicable VA rating criteria.

The Board has reopened the Veteran's service connection claim for a cervical spine disorder and granted an increased rating of 70 percent for his lumbar degenerative disc disease, effective from when the new evidence was received.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for hiatal hernia and low back disability were denied. The claim for service connection for retinitis pigmentosa was previously denied in July 1981, with no new and material evidence submitted since then.

The Veteran's claims for a higher evaluation for his back disability and TDIU are being remanded due to the need for additional development, including another VA examination.

The Veteran withdrew her appeal for service connection for bilateral hearing loss, flat feet, a bilateral knee disorder, a female internal organ disorder, and incontinence prior to the Board's decision.

The Board has determined that additional VA treatment records need to be obtained, and a VA examination is required to determine the nature and etiology of the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss and low back disorder. The claims are being remanded for these purposes.

The Board has determined that new and material evidence has not been submitted to reopen the Veteran's claims of service connection for depression and a back disorder. The claim for depression was denied as it is not related to his military service or a service-connected condition, while the claim for a back disorder lacks sufficient evidence to establish its onset during service.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss, low back disability, residuals of left ankle sprain, and lung disability were not incurred or aggravated by service. The evidence does not support a finding of service connection for these conditions.

The Veteran's low back disability is rated at 20 percent, and his left and right knee disabilities are each rated at 10 percent. These ratings have been granted.

The Board has reopened the appellant's claims for service connection and compensation under 38 U.S.C. § 1151, but these issues are REMANDED to obtain further development.

The Board denied service connection for asbestosis and low back disorder, finding that the Veteran did not have a disease or injury in service and no evidence of continuity of symptoms since service. The claims were decided on the basis of direct service connection.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded due to the need for additional development of his claims, including obtaining private treatment records and VA treatment records related to his low back disorder, PTSD, and bilateral hearing loss.

The Board found that the Veteran's low back and psychiatric disorders were not incurred or aggravated by service. The current conditions are unrelated to his military service.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities render him unable to secure and follow a substantially gainful occupation, thus meeting the criteria for TDIU.

The Board found that the Veteran's service-connected posttraumatic stress disorder did not cause or aggravate his erectile dysfunction, GERD, left knee disability, right knee degenerative joint disease, back disability, or skin disability. The claims were denied as there was no evidence to support a direct relationship between these conditions and the Veteran's period of active military service.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, cervical spine disorder, and thoracolumbar spine disorder are found to be related to his active service.

The Veteran's claim for an increased rating for degenerative joint disease of the lumbar spine is being remanded due to inadequate examination and further development is required.

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

The Veteran's service-connected left knee instability and chronic lumbar strain with degenerative changes, L1-L5, are not shown to warrant a higher initial rating.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for residuals of a shrapnel wound of the right hand was denied as new and material evidence had not been submitted. The initial rating for hypertension is granted at 10 percent, effective April 3, 2006. The initial compensable rating for discogenic disease and degenerative joint disease (DJD) of the lumbar spine prior to February 14, 2009, was denied.