Back / lumbar spine Board decisions

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded to determine the nature and severity of her back disability, as well as her left leg disability. The claims for increased ratings and TDIU are also being remanded.

The Board has remanded the case for further development due to new information received from Social Security Administration (SSA) regarding the Veteran's SSI benefits. The VA must secure any relevant SSA records and re-adjudicate the claims.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded to obtain additional medical records and for the Veteran to undergo VA examinations to assess her current disabilities.

The Veteran was granted service connection for PTSD due to in-service sexual assault. The low back disability issue is remanded for further examination and opinion.

The Veteran seeks service connection for various back and leg disabilities, including degenerative arthritis with spondylolisthesis of the lumbar spine. The Board has determined that a remand is necessary to obtain updated medical opinions regarding the etiology of these conditions.

The Board has determined that the effective date for the Veteran's service-connected left leg length discrepancy should be November 19, 2004.

The Board has reopened the claim for service connection for a back disability and found that new and material evidence had been presented. The Veteran's scar on left side of his neck was not present in service or for many years thereafter, and is not etiologically related to service. The criteria for a compensable evaluation for an umbilical hernia have not been met.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claim for additional development, specifically to obtain a VA examination and opinion concerning whether his low back disorder is related to service.

The Veteran's initial claims for increased evaluations for his service-connected degenerative arthritis of the lumbar spine with a bulging disc at L4-5 and scoliosis were denied. The Board found that from June 26, 2003 to September 2, 2009, he did not meet the criteria for an evaluation in excess of 10 percent, and on or after September 2, 2009, he did not meet the criteria for an evaluation in excess of 20 percent. The Veteran's claim for TDIU was also denied.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for a back disorder with degenerative arthritis is being remanded due to the need for additional development, including obtaining missing service treatment records and scheduling an appropriate VA examination.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not prevent him from obtaining and maintaining substantially gainful employment.

The Veteran's lumbar spine disability has not been shown to meet the criteria for a higher rating than 20 percent.

The Board found that the Veteran's pes planus was not aggravated by service and denied his claim for service connection. The back condition is also denied as it is not proximately due to, caused by, or aggravated by a service-connected disability.

The Board found that the Veteran did not suffer from gunshot wound residuals of the right shoulder, a neck disability, or a low back strain during service. The skin disorder was also not linked to exposure to Agent Orange. As such, the claims for these conditions were denied.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for a low back disorder and left toe disorder, finding no evidence of a link between these conditions and his military service.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's low back disability is not related to his service-connected bilateral pes planus and therefore denied the claim for secondary service connection.

The Veteran's anxiety disorder and lumbar spine condition have been granted service connection. The anxiety disorder is linked to his in-service mental health symptoms, while the lumbar spine condition is considered secondary to his right foot disability.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's lower back disorder is incurred in and caused by his military service, granting service connection for this condition.

The Board is remanding the case to provide proper VCAA notice and to determine if there is new and material evidence for reopening claims of service connection for neck and back disabilities.

The Veteran's diabetes mellitus, type II, is related to active service and the claim for this condition is granted. The issue of whether new and material evidence has been submitted to reopen a claim for service connection for a low back disability remains pending.