Back / lumbar spine Board decisions

The Board found no credible evidence of an in-service injury or continuity of symptomatology thereafter, and thus denied the Veteran's claim for service connection of a low back disability.

The Board found that the reduction of the Veteran's service-connected low back strain disability rating from 20% to 10% was proper, effective April 1, 2008.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for back and neck disorders, as well as his claim for a rating in excess of 10 percent for bilateral hearing loss. The decision is final due to previous denials.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded for additional development, including obtaining medical records and arranging for examinations to determine the etiology of his heart disability, back disability, right leg neurological disability, and scar on the head.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's current back disorder is related to his military service, and thus grants the claim for service connection.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including obtaining relevant medical records and scheduling a VA examination to determine the nature and likely etiology of any chronic low back disorder.

The Board has found no evidence of a back injury or disease in service, and the Veteran's current low back disorder is not related to his active service.

The Veteran's appeal has been withdrawn by his representative.

The Veteran is seeking benefits under the provisions of 38 U.S.C.A. § 1151 for disability of the lumbar spine, claimed as the result of treatment (spinal decompression) received from a VA medical facility in May 2006. The case is being remanded to obtain additional evidence and possibly an updated medical opinion.

The Board has remanded the case due to failure to address secondary service connection for a low back disability, which was raised by the Veteran. The claim will be adjudicated again with further development and evidence.

The Board has granted service connection for a disability manifested by diarrhea, PTSD, and arthralgias. The respiratory disorder, back disability, chronic sinus disability, fatigue, and skin rash were not found to be related to service or the Gulf War.

The Veteran's intervertebral disc syndrome of the lumbar spine is currently rated at 40 percent disabling effective October 28, 2009.

The Board found no evidence to support the Veteran's claims for service connection for a chronic low back disorder and an acquired psychiatric disorder (depression). The disorders were not shown to be related to active duty service.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient evidence regarding the Veteran's back disability, including a lack of medical records from 1975-1991 and an incomplete VA spine examination. The Veteran is required to provide additional evidence or undergo further examinations.

The Board has remanded the case for a new VA examination to determine the nature, extent, and etiology of any current lumbar spine disability. The Veteran's in-service injury during service is considered as possible onset of his current back disability.

The Veteran's service-connected degenerative joint disease of the lumbar spine is currently rated at 40 percent, which is the maximum schedular rating available under VA guidelines. The Board found that the current rating adequately reflects the severity and symptoms associated with his condition.

The Veteran's claim for a higher rating for his low back disability was denied as the evidence did not show flexion limited to 30 degrees or less, and he does not have intervertebral disc syndrome requiring bed rest prescribed by a physician.

The Veteran's reactive changes of the thoracolumbar spine resulted in at least some range of motion loss and incapacitating episodes since April 8, 2005. Prior to that date, his symptoms did not meet criteria for a higher rating.

The Veteran meets the basic eligibility requirements for assistance in acquiring specially adaptive housing due to his service-connected disabilities that have essentially commensurate with loss of use of both lower extremities.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's seizure disorder and lumbosacral strain are not related to service, including any inservice injuries or exposures. The claim for service connection is denied.