Back / lumbar spine Board decisions

The Veteran's compression fracture to L-1 is asymptomatic and does not meet the criteria for a higher disability rating. His current symptoms are attributed to his degenerative arthritis, which is not connected to his military service or fracture sustained in service.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient evidence regarding whether the Veteran's current low back disorder is related to service, specifically a motor vehicle accident in 1976. The Veteran will be scheduled for a VA examination to determine this relationship.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities are not considered to be permanent in nature, thus failing the eligibility criteria for dependent's educational assistance.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims of service connection for low back disorder, hypertension, and Type II diabetes mellitus due to a lack of evidence showing these conditions were incurred or aggravated during active service.

The Veteran's claims for higher initial disability ratings for residuals of gall bladder polyp, status-post laparoscopic cholecystectomy and degenerative disc disease of the lumbosacral spine have been denied. The evidence does not support a higher rating at any time during the applicable periods.

The Board found no evidence to support a service connection for the Veteran's back disability, as his pre-existing congenital scoliosis was not aggravated by service. The claim is therefore denied.

The Veteran's diagnosed degenerative disc disease (DDD) of the lumbar spine was not incurred in or aggravated by service. The Board found that there is no medical evidence linking his current condition to his active duty service.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for his cervical and lumbar spine disabilities have been denied. The Board found that the current evaluations adequately reflect the severity of the Veteran's conditions.

The Veteran's lumbar spine injury and resulting sciatica are found to be service-connected, as the additional disability did not result from VA medical treatment.

The Board denied a rating in excess of 20 percent for the service-connected lumbar spine disability, finding that the evidence did not show any exceptional or unusual circumstances warranting an extra-schedular evaluation.

The Board has remanded the case for further development, including obtaining service treatment records and private medical records to determine if the Veteran's current conditions are related to his military service.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for left ear hearing loss is denied as there is no evidence of a current disability. The claims for right ear hearing loss, tinnitus, and lumbosacral spine status post surgery are remanded due to the need for further development.

The Board found that the Veteran's lumbar and thoracic degenerative disease with disc herniation did not result from his military service.

The Board has granted service connection for a lumbar spine disability and finds that the Veteran's current back pain is related to his military service. The claim for left knee disability, skin disability, acquired psychiatric disorder (PTSD), and hepatitis B was not supported by the evidence of record.

The Veteran's appeal for increased ratings and TDIU was denied. The Veteran is service-connected for degenerative disc disease of the lumbosacral spine, major depressive disorder, and erectile dysfunction, with a combined disability rating of 90 percent.

The Veteran's appeal of the issues regarding service connection for disabilities of the left knee and low back has been withdrawn. The issue of a compensable initial rating for right shoulder disability is being remanded.

The Board has determined that new and material evidence has been submitted to reopen the claims of entitlement to service connection for a lumbar spine disability and a left knee disability. The Veteran's statements regarding his back pain since active service, along with medical records showing diagnoses of degenerative disc disease (DDD) of the lumbar spine and left knee arthritis, are sufficient to raise a reasonable possibility of substantiating these claims.

The Veteran's appeal of the claims for service connection for liver disorder, kidney disorder, post concussion syndrome, cervicalgia, lacerations of the face and nose, right foot contusions, and to reopen the claim of service connection for a low back disability was withdrawn. The claim for an increased rating for tinnitus is denied as there is no legal basis for assignment of a schedular evaluation in excess of 10 percent.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded to the RO for additional development, including scheduling a videoconference hearing.

The Veteran's claim for an increased rating for his back disability is being remanded due to the need for additional medical examinations and development of records.