Back / lumbar spine Board decisions

The Board has determined that the Veteran's current low back disorder, including degenerative disc disease, was not incurred in or aggravated by service and arthritis may not be presumed to have been so incurred. The preponderance of evidence is against the claim.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including examinations and etiological opinions.

The Veteran's claim for compensation under 38 U.S.C.A. § 1151 is denied as there is no evidence of additional disability due to VA care, and the fault lies with the Veteran.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including obtaining medical records and scheduling a VA examination to assess the severity of the Veteran's service-connected lumbar spine disability. The claim will be re-adjudicated after these actions.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded due to the need for additional development, including obtaining medical records and considering service connection for lumbar spine degenerative disc disease.

The Veteran's service connection claim for cervical and lumbar degenerative disc disease with lumbar spondylosis is granted. The claim for depression and anxiety remains pending as it was not addressed in the decision.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining medical records from the VAMC in Hot Springs, South Dakota.

The Veteran's low back disorder was initially rated at 20 percent from July 16, 1999, through March 7, 2010. From March 8, 2010, the rating for his orthopedic manifestations of the condition has been increased to 40 percent.

The Board found no evidence of a link between the Veteran's current low back disability and his service, including an in-service injury. The claim was denied.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities (PTSD, lumbar spine disability, and hemorrhoids) prevent him from securing or following a substantially gainful occupation.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's currently diagnosed back disorder is not related to military service and therefore denied his claim for service connection.

The VA determined that the Veteran's low back, bilateral hip, right knee, and left ankle disabilities are not service-connected as secondary to his service-connected left knee osteoarthritis.

The Veteran has withdrawn his appeal for service connection for bilateral pes planus, bunions, and a low back disability. The Board has no further jurisdiction in these matters.

The Veteran's claims for service connection are being remanded to obtain additional medical records and to schedule VA examinations to determine the etiology of his low back disorder, recurrent right ear infections, and bilateral hearing loss.

The Veteran's claims for service connection are being remanded due to the need for additional records and further development.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including VA examinations to assess the severity of her service-connected osteoporosis and arthritis, as well as a determination on whether her current arthritis is related to her service or service-connected conditions.

The Board has granted service connection for tinnitus, degenerative disc disease of the lumbar spine, and cervical disc disease with radiculopathy. The Veteran's claims for a right knee disability and neck disability are not addressed in this decision.

The Veteran's appeal was denied for various issues, including service connection for bilateral hearing loss and cervical spine disability, increased ratings for lumbar spine disability, and initial ratings for tinnitus and cervicogenic headaches. The Veteran's lumbar spine disability is rated at 10 percent prior to April 4, 2009, and 20 percent since then.

The Board has determined that additional medical examinations are necessary to properly evaluate the appellant's service-connected low back and foot disabilities, as well as to determine if separate disability ratings for her right and left foot conditions are warranted.

The Veteran's appeal for higher ratings and secondary service connection claims were denied. The Board found that the right great toe hallux rigidus did not meet criteria for a rating higher than 30 percent, as there was no evidence of claw foot or hammer toes.