Back / lumbar spine Board decisions

The Board finds that the Veteran's current lumbar and cervical spine disorders are more likely than not a result of his back injury during active duty for training (ACDUTRA) in 1983, which he has consistently attributed to service. The claims are granted.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not result in the permanent loss of use of a hand or foot, nor does she have ankylosis of either knee and/or hip. As such, she is not eligible for assistance in acquiring an automobile with special adaptive equipment.

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

The Board has determined that the Veteran's current low back disability is related to his service, and thus grants service connection for this condition.

The Board has determined that new and material evidence has been presented to reopen the Veteran's claim for service connection for back disability. The case is remanded for further development, including a VA examination.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including obtaining VA examinations and medical opinions regarding the Veteran's cervical spine disability, lower back disability, bilateral shoulder disability, and hypertension.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings and service connection were generally granted, with some issues remanded. The cervical spine disability was granted a higher rating after April 26, 2006, while other conditions like gastritis, hemorrhoids, headaches, carpal tunnel syndrome in the left wrist, PTSD, tinnitus, hypertension, and vertigo/dizziness (claimed as dizziness) were not established as service-connected.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded to obtain additional service records and for further examination. The claims will be re-adjudicated after the development.

The Veteran's claims for increased evaluations of his lumbosacral strain with traumatic arthritis, right knee arthritis, and residuals of a right middle finger fracture were denied. The RO found that the evidence did not support ratings in excess of 20 percent for lumbosacral strain with traumatic arthritis or 10 percent for right knee arthritis.

The Board has ordered additional development of the Veteran's claims due to missing VA medical records and requests for private healthcare providers.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim of entitlement to service connection for a low back disability in November 2005. The evidence submitted since then does not relate to an unestablished fact necessary to substantiate the claim.

The Board has denied service connection for a broken tooth due to lack of evidence of dental trauma during active duty. The remaining issues are being remanded for further development.

The Board has granted service connection for a right shoulder disability incurred in active military service and awarded an increased rating for degenerative disc disease of the cervical spine. The issue of entitlement to TDIU is dismissed as the Veteran withdrew his appeal.

The Board has granted a 30 percent rating for service-connected sinusitis, finding that the Veteran's disability picture more nearly approximates a disability picture of more than six non-incapacitating episodes per year characterized by headaches, pain, and purulent discharge or crusting. The claim for service connection for back disability is remanded due to the need for an appropriate VA examination.

The Board has granted service connection for degenerative disc and joint disease of the lumbar spine, finding that it is related to an in-service injury. The Veteran's current condition was not noted at entry into service but he had symptoms during service and continues to have them post-service.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded due to deficiencies in the statement of the case and because his left ankle disability has worsened. He must be afforded a VA examination, and all relevant private treatment records must be requested.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including obtaining service treatment records from the West Virginia National Guard and scheduling a VA examination to assess the appellant's bilateral dry eye disability and left shoulder condition.

The Board has granted service connection for degenerative disc disease of the lumbar spine, finding that it had its onset in service and is related to the Veteran's line-of-duty injuries during National Guard service.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for a back disorder, lumbar spine degenerative disc disease, and bilateral hearing loss is granted. Service connection for the back disorder and lumbar spine degenerative disc disease is established due to in-service injury and continuity of symptomatology post-service. Bilateral hearing loss is not established as a disability.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining SSA records and a VA examination to assess his current level of disability. The issue of TDIU has also been raised due to the Veteran's recent award of Social Security Administration benefits.