Back / lumbar spine Board decisions

The Board has remanded the case due to incomplete development of service records and a need for further medical examination.

The Veteran's service-connected cervical spine disability is currently evaluated at 20 percent, and the Board has determined that a higher rating is not warranted.

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

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection due to additional development being required.

The Veteran withdrew his appeal for all issues on April 27, 2010.

The Board has determined that the Veteran does not have a chronic disability of the left shoulder or low back, and thus service connection for these conditions is denied.

The Board has granted service connection for tinnitus and denied service connection for hearing loss in the right ear and a low back disorder. The Veteran's tinnitus is found to be related to his military service, while his hearing loss and low back disorder are not.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for increased ratings for asthma, degenerative joint disease at L5-S1 (low back disability), and gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD).

The Board found that the preponderance of evidence does not support service connection for a cervical disorder, and denied all issues related to lumbar degenerative disc disease.

The Veteran's initial claim for a higher rating for his low back disability was denied. The RO granted service connection and assigned a 10 percent evaluation effective January 6, 2000, and a 40 percent evaluation effective June 25, 2004.

The Board has decided to remand the case for additional development, including a new VA examination and opinion regarding the Veteran's low back disorder.

The Board has determined that new and material evidence has not been received to reopen the claim for service connection for a low back disorder, which was previously denied in April 2000.

The Board has determined that additional evidence is needed to fully and fairly consider the Veteran's claims, including obtaining records from SSA and scheduling VA examinations.

The Veteran's chronic lumbosacral strain with mild osteoarthritis does not meet the criteria for an evaluation in excess of 40 percent due to lack of unfavorable ankylosis or incapacitating episodes.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining recent medical records and scheduling VA examinations to assess the current severity of his service-connected disabilities.

The Board has remanded the case due to incomplete records and inadequate examination, requiring further development.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for a cervical spine disorder, headaches, Achilles tendonitis of the right ankle, and Achilles tendonitis of the left ankle as there is no competent evidence linking these conditions to his military service.

The Board found no evidence of a low back disability in service and denied the Veteran's claim for service connection.

The Veteran's tinnitus was found to have begun in service and is considered incurred during active military service, granting service connection for bilateral tinnitus. The low back condition, left eye smoke damage, and scratchy voice (claimed as sore throat) issues are pending further examination and evaluation.

The Veteran's claim for an increased rating for his service-connected low back disability is being remanded due to the need for a new VA examination and consideration of whether separate compensable ratings are warranted for any nerve damage present.