Back / lumbar spine Board decisions

The Board has determined that the Veteran's cervical and lumbar spine disabilities are directly related to his active duty for training, thus granting service connection.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including obtaining medical records and providing a VA examination to address the etiology of the Veteran's claimed disabilities.

The Veteran's claim for a higher rating for lumbosacral strain with arthritis was granted, effective July 20, 2009. The current rating of 40 percent is appropriate as of that date.

The Veteran's claim for increased ratings for his service-connected lumbar disc disease and degenerative joint disease was denied. The RO found that the disability did not meet or approximate criteria for a rating in excess of 40 percent prior to June 1, 2007, and 20 percent from June 1, 2007.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims of service connection for a lumbar spine disability and dental disability, finding that there was no evidence to support these claims based on direct service connection.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's current degenerative joint disease of the lumbar spine is related to his active duty service and grants this claim. The Board found no credible or competent evidence linking the Veteran's current hemorrhagic fever residuals to his military service.

The Board found no evidence linking the Veteran's current lower back disorder to his active service, and denied his claim for service connection.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for sinusitis, bilateral hearing loss disability, an eye disability, a low back disability, and a neck disability have all been denied as there is no competent clinical or credible lay evidence to support these claims.

The Veteran's claims for increased disability evaluations were denied as his conditions did not meet the criteria for higher ratings under VA rating criteria.

The Veteran's claims for service connection and increased ratings were denied. Service connection was not granted for sinus tachycardia, while the Veteran's migraine headaches, lumbar spine disability, and hypothyroidism (post thyroidectomy) were rated appropriately.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims of entitlement to an effective date earlier than June 25, 2002 for awards of service connection for a lumbar disability, bilateral lower extremity peripheral neuropathy, tinnitus, and bilateral hearing loss. The issue of whether new and material evidence has been submitted to reopen a claim of entitlement to service connection for a bilateral knee disability is also addressed in the REMAND portion.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims of entitlement to service connection for a neck disorder and a back disorder, finding that there was no in-service injury or disease related to these conditions. The claim for an initial compensable disability rating for sinusitis is not addressed in this decision.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for low back and right hip disabilities have been reopened due to the submission of new and material evidence. However, his claims for increased evaluations for his right knee disabilities remain denied.

The Veteran's claim for a compensable rating for his lumbosacral strain was granted, but he is still not receiving the full compensation due to his disability.

The Veteran's cervical spine degenerative disc disease is rated at 30 percent since May 19, 2009 and 20 percent prior to that date. The right fifth metacarpophalangeal fracture residuals are rated at 10 percent throughout the appeal period.

The Veteran's claim for SMC based on loss of use of both legs is being remanded due to inadequate VCAA notice and the need for a VA examination.

The Board found that the Veteran's L5-S1 spondylolysis and lumbar spine disc disease are related to his active service, granting his claim for service connection.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for a low back disorder, concluding that his current lumbosacral disc pathology cannot be disassociated from an in-service chronic low back strain.

The Board found that the Veteran's back disability is not related to his service or secondary to his service-connected bilateral pes planus, and thus denied the claim.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for a back disability, finding that there is no current disability and no evidence linking any injury or condition to her active service.