Back / lumbar spine Board decisions

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities have rendered him unable to work, but further development is needed to determine if his employment issues are solely due to these conditions.

The Board has determined that new and material evidence has been received to reopen the Veteran's claim for service connection for a back disability, and has found that the Veteran's current lumbar radiculopathy first developed during military service. Therefore, service connection is granted.

Throughout the rating period, your mild degenerative joint disease of the lumbar spine with pain has been manifested by daily pain that is partially alleviated by medication and objective pain at the ends of range of motion testing. The Veteran's disability does not meet or approximate the criteria for a higher evaluation.

The Board has determined that a new examination is needed to determine the etiology of the Veteran's degenerative disc disease and left leg nerve damage, including as secondary to his lumbar spine disorder.

The Veteran's claim for an earlier effective date for service connection of degenerative arthritis of the thoracic and lumbosacral spine is being remanded due to a potential clear and unmistakable error in a previous rating decision.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for further development, including consideration of whether referral to the Director of Compensation and Pension Service for extra-schedular evaluation is warranted.

The Board determined that the Appellant's back disorder was not incurred or aggravated by active duty training (ACDUTRA). The evidence did not support a finding of service connection.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including an opportunity to undergo a VA examination.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's claimed back and knee disabilities are not service-connected as they did not begin in service or for many years thereafter, and there is no credible medical evidence linking these conditions to service.

The Board has granted service connection for headaches and a low back disorder, but denied service connection for Raynaud's disease, collagen vascular disease, and fibrosis.

The Veteran's claim for higher ratings for degenerative disc disease of the lumbar spine was denied. The Board found that during the period from May 15, 2001 to May 18, 2005, his disability did not meet the criteria for a rating in excess of 20 percent. Beginning July 1, 2006, it did not meet the criteria for a rating in excess of 40 percent.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's benign prostatic hypertrophy, status post transurethral resection is likely due to disease or injury incurred during his active service.

The Board found that the Veteran's cervical spine anomaly, fusion of C4 and C5, was not incurred or aggravated by service. The low back disability is also not attributable to service.

The Veteran's appeal was dismissed as there is no remaining allegation of error in fact or law with respect to the issue of additional special monthly compensation based on the need for regular aid and attendance, or on the basis of being housebound.

The Board found that the Veteran's back disorder was not incurred in service and denied his claim.

The Board has remanded the case for further development due to a hearing issue.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for low back strain with degenerative joint disease and bilateral hearing loss were denied due to failure to report for scheduled VA examinations without good cause.

The Veteran's right knee disorder is considered to have been incurred during service. The Board has also found that the Veteran currently has a left knee disorder and low back disorder related to his military service.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development and adjudication due to new evidence submitted by the Veteran.

The Veteran's neurological manifestations of his service-connected low back strain are manifested by subjective complaints, but there is no objective evidence of diminished motor or sensory function attributable to the service-connected low back strain. Therefore, a separate compensable rating for a neurological disability secondary to or associated with the Veteran's service-connected low back strain has not been met.