Back / lumbar spine Board decisions

The Veteran's claims for increased evaluations for his right ankle strain, right knee bipartite patella, and thoracolumbar spine strain are being remanded due to the need for additional development including obtaining medical records and scheduling a VA examination.

The Board found that the Veteran's low back disability, diagnosed as degenerative disc disease and spondylosis of the lumbar spine and facet joint arthritis, is likely related to his active military service. The preponderance of evidence supports this finding.

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

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for back, right shoulder, left knee, and right knee disorders due to a lack of evidence showing current disability or continuity of symptomatology since service.

The Veteran's claimed conditions, including bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus, were not incurred in or aggravated by active service. Service connection is denied.

The Veteran's low back disability is rated at 20 percent from April 13, 2005 and continues to be granted. The issue of service connection for PTSD has been recharacterized as noted above.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's claimed low back disorder, stomach disorder, and hiatal hernia/gastroesophageal reflux disease are not related to his period of active service. The evidence does not support a finding that these conditions were incurred or aggravated during his military service.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development due to an inadequate VA examination.

The Veteran's claims for service connection are being remanded due to conflicting medical opinions and the need for a new VA examination.

The appeal is being remanded due to the need for additional development, including obtaining SSA records.

The Veteran's service-connected chronic lumbosacral strain does not meet the criteria for a TDIU as his combined disability rating is less than 70% and he has other disabilities that have been found not to be service-connected. The Board finds that the Veteran is not unemployable due to his service-connected disability.

The Veteran's claim for an increased evaluation for his lumbar spine disability is being remanded due to inconsistencies in clinical findings and the need for a new examination.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient evidence regarding the relationship between a back disability and an injury during military service in October 1996.

The Board has determined that there is no current diagnosis of a low back disability and thus service connection for the Veteran's claimed condition cannot be granted.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for a back disability is being remanded due to inadequate examination and development.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded due to insufficient recent medical evidence and the need for a VA examination to assess his current disability status, including any associated left radiculopathy.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's chronic back disability is related to injuries sustained during his active service in Iraq, and thus grants service connection for this condition.

The Veteran's claims for service connection were denied. The claim to reopen the low back and leg pain condition was not granted due to lack of new and material evidence. Service connection for right ear hearing loss, tinnitus, and diabetes mellitus (claimed as due to herbicide exposure) were also denied.

The Veteran's appeal was dismissed due to his death.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded for additional development, including obtaining updated VA outpatient records and scheduling a new VA examination to assess the severity of his service-connected lumbar spine disability. The claim will be reconsidered after these actions.