Back / lumbar spine Board decisions

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining Social Security Administration records and a VA examination to assess the impact of his service-connected disabilities on his employment. The issue of entitlement to TDIU will be adjudicated as part of this process.

The Veteran does not have a low back disability that is attributable to military service.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's service-connected disorders, including bilateral pes planus and a lower back disorder, are at least as likely as not related to his currently diagnosed bilateral dorsal lateral midfoot varicosities, cervical spine degenerative disc disease at C5-C7, left hip degenerative joint disease, bilateral knee degenerative joint disease, and sacroiliac syndrome. As such, the criteria for service connection have been met.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for asbestosis, residuals of bilateral eye injury, and back disorder. The claim for an initial compensable evaluation for bilateral sensorineural hearing loss is pending.

The Board has determined that the Veteran does not have a current disability diagnosed as arthritis of multiple joints. The lumbar spine disability is presumed to be due to natural progression and not service-connected.

The Veteran's appeal has been withdrawn, and the case is dismissed.

The Board has determined that the Veteran does not have a current right foot disorder and therefore cannot establish service connection for this condition. The claim of service connection for a lower back disorder is remanded as there are conflicting reports regarding its onset during service.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development of his service-connected chronic low back strain with degenerative disc disease and dyshidrotic eczema and herpes simplex claims.

The Board has remanded the case for further development, including a VA examination to determine if the Veteran's current low back strain and upper back disability are related to service. The claims will be reconsidered based on the additional evidence.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded due to the need for a Travel Board hearing.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development to obtain medical records and determine whether service connection can be established for right knee, right ankle, low back disorders, and hypertension.

The Board granted service connection for lumbosacral strain with arthritis and osteoporosis effective July 30, 2003. The Veteran's claim was reopened in July 2000, but the new evidence submitted did not meet the criteria to reopen the claim.

The Veteran's service connection for degenerative disc disease of the lumbar spine and coccydynia associated with residuals fracture, left femur was granted effective September 27, 2007. The claim for a higher rating for coccydynia remains denied.,Service connection for bilateral hearing loss is not established.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for a deviated nasal septum is granted. Initial compensable evaluations are granted for DJD of the right hip, DJD of the left hip, degenerative arthritis of the cervical spine, and degenerative arthritis of the thoracolumbar spine. Service connection for tinea corporis is also granted.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for a headache disorder and low back disorder have been granted as the evidence is in equipoise regarding their onset during service.,The Board finds that the Veteran's current headaches and low back disorders are related to his period of active duty.

The Board denied reopening the claims for service connection for a right shoulder condition and lumbar spine degenerative arthritis, finding that new evidence did not relate to an unestablished fact necessary to substantiate the claims.

The Veteran's claim for a total rating for compensation purposes based on individual unemployability is granted, effective May 16, 1990.

The Board found that the Veteran's service-connected disabilities did not preclude him from engaging in substantially gainful employment prior to November 14, 2003. Effective November 14, 2003, secondary service connection was granted for a psychiatric disorder due to his back disability.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient evidence regarding the relationship between the Veteran's low back disability and his service, including a fall from a jeep in 1964. The Veteran's representative also raised the issue of whether the low back disability is related to his service-connected left arm disabilities.

The Veteran's low back disability has been characterized by some pain and occasional flare-ups, but does not meet the criteria for a compensable rating based on forward flexion of the thoracolumbar spine greater than 60 degrees but not greater than 85 degrees; combined range of motion of the thoracolumbar spine greater than 120 degrees but not greater than 235 degrees; muscle spasm, guarding or localized tenderness resulting in an abnormal gait; X-ray evidence of arthritis with noncompensable limitation of motion objectively confirmed by findings such as swelling, muscle spasm, or satisfactory evidence of painful motion; or incapacitating episodes of intervertebral disc syndrome having a total duration of at least one week but less than two weeks during the past 12 months.