Back / lumbar spine Board decisions

The Board has determined that the Veteran does not have current disabilities of left ankle, low back, cervical spine, or left knee. Therefore, service connection for these conditions is denied.

The Board has granted service connection for the Veteran's lumbar spine disability as secondary to his service-connected residuals of bilateral shell fragment wounds. The issue of increased evaluations for his thigh wounds and TDIU claim will be addressed after further development.

The Board has determined that there is a need to verify the Veteran's periods of active duty, inactive duty training, and Army National Guard service. Additionally, the Veteran needs to be afforded a VA examination to determine the nature and likely etiology of his claimed low back disability.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for increased ratings for PTSD, cervical spine disability, and lumbar spine disability. The effective date of service connection was January 18, 2005.

The Veteran's claims for service connection were denied as his claimed conditions are not shown to be related to military service or a service-connected disability.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for lumbar DDD secondary to his right ankle disability was granted with a retroactive effective date of June 24, 2002.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's lumbar spine disorder warrants a rating of 40 percent effective from September 6, 2005.

The Veteran's service-connected lumbar spine disability has been rated at 10 percent since February 8, 2008. The VA examiner found that the Veteran's functional loss due to pain more closely resembled a limitation of thoracolumbar motion with flexion restricted to less than 60 degrees but more than 30 degrees.

The Veteran's claims for higher evaluations of his service-connected right elbow, right upper extremity, and lumbar spine disabilities have been denied. The claim for an initial compensable evaluation for status post nasal fracture has also been denied.

The Veteran's claim for higher initial ratings for degenerative disc disease of the low back is being remanded due to changes in rating criteria and incomplete development.

The Veteran's claim for an increased rating for his chronic thoracic and lumbosacral strain with spasm is being remanded to the RO for a hearing before a Veterans Law Judge.

The Veteran's service connection claims for left ear hearing loss, back disability, right shoulder disability, hypertension, and residuals of frozen feet are all granted.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss and a back disorder were denied as there is no evidence of current disabilities or a nexus to service.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development of his claims, including a VA examination to assess the severity and frequency of his low back disability.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for service-connected lumbar and cervical spine disabilities were granted, with a 20 percent rating assigned from August 22, 2007.

The Veteran seeks a TDIU rating due to service-connected disabilities, but the RO has determined that further development is needed before deciding his claim.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for further development, including a VA examination to assess the current severity of his service-connected lumbar spine disability and consideration of additional treatment records.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for right and left knee disorders, a left shoulder disorder, and the Veteran's right shoulder and low back disorders due to inadequate development.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded due to incomplete development of his claims, including the need for VA examinations and obtaining Social Security Administration records.

Service connection is denied for traumatic arthritis of the right knee and a left knee injury. Service connection is granted for degenerative disc disease (DDD) of the lumbar spine and bilateral hearing loss.,The Veteran's current depressed skull fracture, claimed as residuals from an in-service head injury, is not service connected.