Back / lumbar spine Board decisions

The Board has remanded the case for a new VA examination to address the etiology of the Appellant's back disorders, including explaining the medical basis or lack thereof of previous opinions. The case will be returned to the RO after obtaining any missing private treatment records and scheduling the new examination.

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

The Veteran's appeal is remanded for further development, including obtaining VA treatment records and SSA disability benefits records. A VA examination will be conducted to determine if the Veteran is unable to secure and follow a substantially gainful occupation due to his service-connected disabilities.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's low back and right lower extremity disabilities are not related to his service-connected bilateral inguinal hernia.,An evaluation in excess of 30 percent for the Veteran's bilateral inguinal hernia is denied.

The Board has denied reopening the claims for service connection for right knee and low back disabilities, both on a secondary basis to the service-connected postoperative left knee medial meniscectomy. The evidence received since the last final denial does not relate to an unestablished fact necessary to substantiate these claims.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for further development, including obtaining VA and private medical records and arranging for a VA examination during a flare-up of his disabilities.

The Board has determined that there is no evidence of a nexus between the Veteran's active duty and his currently shown low back disorder, thus denying service connection.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for low back disability, left leg numbness and nerve damage, and depression. The evidence did not show that these conditions were incurred in or aggravated by active service.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, a back disorder (secondary to left knee disorder), and a right hip disorder (secondary to left knee disorder).

The Board has remanded the case for additional development to determine if the Veteran's current low back disability is related to his service, including a motor bike accident in May 1965 and muscle sprain in April 1968.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for atherosclerotic heart disease and low back pain was denied. The Board found that there is no current diagnosis of these conditions.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded due to the unavailability of service treatment records and incomplete post-service medical records. The RO will attempt to obtain these records and provide the Veteran with an opportunity for a VA examination if necessary.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's multilevel degenerative changes, primarily from L2-L5/S1, are related to his service and grants service connection for this condition.

The Veteran's claim for aid and attendance benefits was granted, effective from May 28, 2003. The Appellant is seeking retroactive compensation due to the allowance of increased benefits based on aid and attendance.

The Board found that the Veteran's back disorder was not incurred in or aggravated by active service and is not proximately due to, the result of, or aggravated by, a service-connected disability.

The Board found that the Veteran's lumbar spine disability did not manifest during or as a result of active military service and denied his claim for service connection. The right foot drop was also denied as secondary to a nonservice-connected lumbar spine disability.

The Veteran's service-connected low back syndrome is currently rated at 20 percent, and the Board finds that it does not meet the criteria for a higher rating.

The Veteran's service connection claims for arthritis of the lumbosacral spine and right knee were denied as his conditions are not related to active service.

The Veteran's chronic low back strain is currently rated at 20 percent, and the Board has granted a rating in excess of 10 percent for residuals of right and left ankle fractures. Service connection for anxiety disorder and arthritis of the ankles to include as secondary to service-connected ankle fractures was also granted.

The Board has remanded the case for further development, including VA examinations and readjudication of service connection claims. The Veteran's TDIU claim is also pending.