Back / lumbar spine Board decisions

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for lumbar spine, right shoulder, TMJ, and hypertension are being remanded due to the need for additional medical examinations.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for an upper back disorder, including cervical spine disability, is being remanded due to the need for additional development and examination.

The Veteran's claims for PTSD, lumbar spine disability, right knee disability, left knee disability, right hip disability, neck disability, and right shoulder disability are being remanded due to the need for additional examinations and evaluations.

The Board has reopened the Veteran's claim for service connection for a chronic back disability and determined that new evidence submitted by the Veteran relates to an unestablished fact necessary to substantiate this claim. The Board also found that the Veteran's current low back condition is related to his in-service motor vehicle accident.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's lung disease, loss of bilateral eyesight, and back disorder are not related to service. The claim for service connection is denied.

The Board has determined that the appellant does not have a current lumbar spine disability that is related to his military service, and thus denied his claim for service connection.

The evidence does not support a finding that the Veteran's current back disability is related to his military service.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's notice of disagreement was not timely filed, and thus the underlying claims for service connection are dismissed.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's low back disability was not incurred or aggravated during active service and denied his claim for service connection.

The Board has granted service connection for acquired psychiatric disability (schizophrenia), tardive dyskinesia, and low back disability. The acquired psychiatric disability is found to have its onset in service, while the tardive dyskinesia is proximately due to his service-connected schizophrenia. The low back disability was not incurred or aggravated by active service.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not preclude him from securing or following a substantially gainful occupation.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining medical records and scheduling a VA examination to determine the etiology of his heel spurs and the severity of his service-connected lumbar spine disability.

The VA denied the Veteran's claims for higher initial ratings for lumbosacral spine DDD and cervical spondylosis, finding that his conditions did not warrant a rating in excess of 10%.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for increased evaluations and service connection, finding that his lumbar strain does not warrant a rating higher than 20 percent.

The Veteran's left hip pain is found to be secondary to his service-connected degenerative disc disease of the lumbar spine, and thus service connection for sciatica of the left lower extremity is granted.

The Board denied service connection for a skin disability, left heel bone cyst, spinal stenosis, and arthritis of the lumbar spine. The Veteran's claims were not based on exposure to herbicides or any other presumptive conditions.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's lumbar arthritis is service-connected, but her claim for chronic fatigue was denied as there is no evidence of a current disability.

The Board finds in favor of the Veteran on all three issues: bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, and a back disability. The evidence supports a finding that these conditions were incurred during service.

The Veteran is seeking compensation under the provisions of 38 U.S.C.A. § 1151 for a lumbar spine condition claimed as due to Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) studies conducted in May 2002. The Board has remanded this issue for further development, including obtaining medical records and opinions.