Back / lumbar spine Board decisions

The Veteran does not have a current diagnosis of a chronic low back disorder and the preponderance of evidence shows that his in-service complaints resolved without residual disability. Therefore, service connection for a low back disorder is denied.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities (PTSD, left shoulder and hip disabilities, and a back disability) may prevent him from obtaining or maintaining substantially gainful employment.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for further development and examination to determine the nature, extent, and etiology of his claimed hearing loss, right shoulder disorder, and degenerative joint disease of the lumbar spine.

The Veteran's appeal for service connection for a back disorder was withdrawn. The Board found that his erectile dysfunction and groin injury residuals are not related to active duty service, nor is there evidence of a current sleep disorder.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for further development and examination to determine the etiology of his hearing loss and back disorder.

The Veteran is seeking an increased rating for his service-connected degenerative disc disease L3-4, but the case has been remanded due to a lack of recent VA examination and the need to distinguish symptoms attributable to this condition from those related to any other disability.

The Board found no evidence of a back injury during active service or ACDUTRA, and thus denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for his lumbar spine disorder.

The Board has decided to remand the case for further development, including obtaining VA clinical records and scheduling a VA examination.

The Veteran's claim for increased ratings for her lumbar strain with degenerative changes was denied. She is currently evaluated at 20 percent since November 28, 2008.

The Board found that the Veteran's current low back disorder is not related to his service-connected left hand disorder or any other service-connected disability, and thus denied his claim for service connection.

The Board granted service connection for a back disability, right knee disability, and headaches. Service connection for hypertension was not established as secondary to PTSD.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss and lumbar spine disorder were not found to be related to his service, including exposure to noise or injury. The claims for these conditions are therefore denied.

The Veteran's claims for increased evaluations of lumbar strain, sacroiliac syndrome of the right hip, and sacroiliac syndrome of the left hip were denied. The RO found that the Veteran did not meet the criteria for a higher evaluation under the applicable rating schedule.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's low back disability, ischemic heart disease, and hypertension were not incurred in or aggravated by service. The evidence does not support a finding of service connection for these conditions.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's low back disorder, including degenerative disc disease and spinal stenosis, is at least as likely as not aggravated by his service-connected bilateral pes planus. As a result, the claim for service connection for this condition is granted.

The Veteran's lumbosacral strain has been manifested by pain and some painful limitation of motion. The VA determined that the disability does not meet the criteria for a higher rating.

The Board dismissed the appeal due to the death of the appellant, and no jurisdiction remains for adjudicating the merits of this claim.

The Board has granted an effective date of September 13, 1985 for service connection of lumbar spine and cervical spine disabilities. The Veteran's claim was pending since at least September 1984 when he submitted a petition to reopen his previously denied claims.

The Board has remanded the case for further development due to inadequate VA examination and incomplete medical opinions.