Back / lumbar spine Board decisions

The Board has granted service connection for a right shoulder disorder and found that new and material evidence has been presented to reopen the claims of service connection for back and left wrist disorders. The Veteran's right shoulder disorder is deemed to be related to his active duty, while the back and left wrist disorders are considered to have developed due to pre-existing conditions.

The Veteran's overpayment of VA disability compensation was properly created due to concurrent receipt of active duty military pay and VA compensation benefits while on active duty.

The Board found that the Veteran's current lumbar spine disorder is not related to his active service and denied all other claims. The Veteran was not granted service connection for a lumbar spine disorder, nor were any increased ratings or TDIU granted.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's right knee, back, neck, left lower extremity sciatica, and acquired psychiatric disorders are not related to his period of service or any aspect thereof, including a service-connected disability. As such, these claims for service connection have been denied.

The Veteran's claim for increased rating in excess of 20 percent for type II diabetes mellitus was denied. The disability picture does not meet the criteria for a higher evaluation as it only requires oral hypoglycemic agents and a restricted diet.

The Veteran's spouse requires regular personal care assistance from another person due to various disabilities, and the Board has determined that she is in need of aid and attendance.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining updated treatment records and scheduling a VA examination to assess the severity of his service-connected right and left knee disabilities and any low back disorder.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining medical records and scheduling a VA examination to assess the nature and etiology of his service-connected conditions.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims due to the need for further development of his medical records and VA examinations.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for a low back disorder and asbestosis. The claims were remanded multiple times, but the evidence did not support granting these claims.

The Board found no evidence of a nexus between the Veteran's current lumbosacral strain and his military service, thus denying the claim for service connection.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for a low back disorder, concluding that there was no evidence of an in-service injury or disease and insufficient medical evidence to establish a nexus between current disability and service.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for a psychiatric disorder and an initial rating in excess of 10 percent for his low back disability. The claim for TDIU is considered part of the pending low back claim.

The Board has determined that the development of the Veteran's employment status and medical treatment records is incomplete, and another attempt to examine the Veteran should be made. The case is being remanded for these purposes.

The Board has granted service connection for keloid scars on the chest, finding that they were incurred in service. Service connection for a low back disability was denied as there is no evidence of such condition during service or within one year after discharge.

The Board found that the Veteran's lumbar spine, right ankle, and right foot/heel disorders were not caused or aggravated by her service-connected status post bunionectomy of the right toe. The claims for service connection are therefore denied.

The Board has restored the Veteran's original 10% rating for mechanical low back strain, finding that there was material improvement in her condition without additional examination. The current evidence does not meet the criteria for a higher rating.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded for a VA examination to determine if his current low back disability is related to service, and for obtaining medical records.

The Board has determined that the evidence does not clearly and unmistakably establish that the Veteran's low back disability is unrelated to his active service, thus restoring service connection for degenerative joint disease of the lumbar spine. The same reasoning applies to the restoration of service connection for osteoarthritis of the right hip, L5 radiculopathy of the right lower extremity, and L5 radiculopathy of the left lower extremity.

The Veteran's claims for service connection and increased ratings were denied. The Board found that the thyroid neoplasm was not incurred in or aggravated by active military service, and his migraine headaches, lumbar degenerative disc disease, left lower extremity radiculopathy, and hypothyroidism did not meet the criteria for higher initial ratings.