Back / lumbar spine Board decisions

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 Board has determined that the Veteran's low back disorder is related to his military service and grants service connection for this condition.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's claims for service connection for various conditions, including arthritis of the hands, feet, and knees, back disorder, eye disorder, diabetes mellitus, and hemolytic anemia are not supported by the evidence. The RO previously denied these claims multiple times without reopening them due to lack of new and material evidence.

The Board has granted service connection for the Veteran's low back disability, finding that it is related to his active military service. The claim of entitlement to a compensable evaluation for right ear hearing loss was denied.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for a back disorder is being remanded due to the need for further development, including obtaining Social Security Administration records and scheduling a VA examination if necessary.

The Board found no evidence of a nexus between the Veteran's current low back disability and his service, including an injury in service. The claim for service connection is denied.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for his service-connected lumbar strain with severe arthritis and residuals of a right arm injury with a muscle tear were denied as the evidence did not meet the criteria for higher evaluations under the applicable rating schedule.

The Board has determined that new and material evidence has not been received to reopen the claims for service connection for lumbosacral strain with arthritic changes of the lumbar spine and residuals of back injury, as well as for residuals of a head and jaw injury. As such, these claims remain denied.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's degenerative disc disease of the lumbar spine is related to his active service, and he is granted service connection for this condition. The Veteran also receives a compensable evaluation for residuals of shrapnel wounds over the left eye and an initial 20 percent rating for residuals of shrapnel wounds to the left thigh.

The Board denied reopening the claims for service connection for a back disorder, right hip disorder, and psychiatric disorder due to lack of new and material evidence. The Veteran's statements regarding his symptoms were considered redundant.

The Veteran's low back disability was granted an initial rating of 10 percent, and a subsequent increased rating to 20 percent effective March 5, 2009. The Veteran's left leg radiculitis and bilateral plantar fasciitis were each granted initial ratings of 10 percent.

The Board found that the Veteran's low back disability was not incurred in or aggravated by service and denied his claim.

The Board denied service connection for hepatitis C, hypothyroidism, hearing loss, tinnitus, a psychiatric disorder (major depression with polysubstance abuse, in remission), and residuals of low back trauma. The Veteran's claims were not supported by the evidence presented.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities render him unable to secure and follow substantially gainful employment, and the Board grants a TDIU.

The Veteran's claims for earlier effective dates for the grants of service connection and increased evaluations have been granted.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's low back disability and left knee disability were not incurred or aggravated by service, and thus denied both claims.

The Veteran's back disability was rated at 20 percent for the period from January 31, 2006 to May 6, 2008. After this date, his condition warranted a higher rating of 40 percent.

The Board has remanded the case due to incomplete records and requests for additional examination.

The Veteran's claim for increased ratings for her degenerative disc disease of the lumbosacral spine was denied. The Board found that the evidence did not support a higher rating prior to September 16, 2009 and maintained the current 10 percent disability evaluation.

The Board found that the Veteran's current low back disability was not caused by his military service and denied his claim for service connection.