Back / lumbar spine Board decisions

The Board found that the Veteran's current low back disability did not start during service and was not caused by a disease or injury in service. The Board also noted that DJD of the lumbosacral spine, which is one of the conditions at issue, does not qualify for presumptive service connection under 38 C.F.R. § 3.309.

The Veteran seeks service connection for a lumbar spine disability, which he attributes to a fall from a truck during service. The Board has remanded the issue due to insufficient evidence regarding the etiology of his current lumbar spine condition.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for low back disability, right lower extremity disability, left lower extremity disability, and hypertension. The Veteran's current conditions are not shown to be related to his military service.

The Veteran's appeal was denied for increased ratings for PTSD, chronic low back disorder, and right wrist status post open reduction internal fixation of ulnar fracture. The appeals were not granted as the evidence did not meet the criteria for higher disability ratings under the applicable rating schedule.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's service-connected low back disability does not warrant a rating in excess of 20 percent, and his right knee disability does not warrant a rating in excess of 10 percent.

The Board has determined that new and material evidence has not been received to reopen the claim of service connection for residuals of a back injury. The Veteran's claim was previously denied in 1976, and no new or material evidence has been submitted since then.

The Veteran's increased rating claims for service-connected lumbar spine disability and conversion reaction with depression and anxiety are being remanded for further development, including obtaining SSA records and arranging for VA examinations.

The Board denied the appellant's claims of service connection for an acquired psychiatric disability, a cervical spine condition, and a lumbar spine condition. The decision is based on the lack of evidence linking these conditions to his military service.

The Board has determined that additional development of the evidence is required before a decision can be made on the Veteran's claims for service connection for low back, left foot, and right leg disorders.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings and service connection have been denied. The RO found that the current evaluations were appropriate, and no new evidence was submitted to reopen previously denied claims.

The Veteran's service-connected right elbow arthritis, right knee ligament repair residuals and arthritis, and right ankle fracture residuals have been granted with initial noncompensable evaluations effective July 1, 2005. The RO increased the evaluation for his right elbow arthritis to 10 percent in October 2008.

The Veteran's lumbar spine disability is rated at 10 percent, effective December 1, 2003. His bilateral hearing loss does not meet the criteria for a compensable rating.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development due to incomplete examinations and missing treatment records.

The Veteran's diabetes mellitus, type II, is presumed to have been incurred in service due to exposure to herbicides. The Veteran's chronic lumbosacral strain with spondylolisthesis has not manifested any ankylosis or incapacitating episodes requiring physician prescribed bed rest having a total duration of at least 6 weeks during the past 12 months, and thus does not warrant a rating in excess of 40 percent.

The Board found no evidence of a current back disorder related to service, and denied the Veteran's claim for service connection.

The Veteran's claim for a compensable rating for her low back disability and TDIU is being remanded due to the need for additional development, including new examinations and consideration of whether an extraschedular rating is warranted.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for a VA examination to determine the nature and etiology of her chronic back disorder, which may be related to service. The Veteran has not been afforded a VA compensation examination for this condition.

The Board has determined that additional development of the claim is necessary due to the need for medical records and a VA examination. The appellant seeks service connection for his low back disorder, which he believes developed as a result of an in-service motor vehicle accident.

The Board has remanded the case for a supplemental VA examination to determine if the Veteran's current back disability is related to service, taking into account his in-service complaints and post-service injury.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for a back disability is being remanded due to the need for additional medical records and further development.