Back / lumbar spine Board decisions

The Board has determined that there is no current evidence of the claimed disabilities and thus service connection cannot be granted for any of the Veteran's claims.

The Veteran's claim for an increased initial evaluation for his service-connected degenerative disc disease of the lumbosacral spine is being remanded due to the need for additional examination and consideration of extraschedular rating.

The Veteran's service-connected low back strain is currently evaluated as 10 percent disabling. The Board finds that the evidence does not meet the criteria for a higher rating.

The Veteran withdrew his appeal for an increased rating of his low back disability, resulting in the dismissal of this issue.

The Veteran's appeals for increased ratings and service connection claims have been withdrawn. The Board has dismissed the appeals due to withdrawal.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded due to the need for a Travel Board hearing. His claims for higher ratings and service connection remain pending.

The Veteran's informed consent prior to the lumbar fusion surgery was deemed adequate. The Board denied compensation under 38 U.S.C.A. § 1151 for hardware failure and associated back pain post-surgery.

The Board granted service connection for a disability of the lumbar spine including arthritis as secondary to service-connected bilateral pes planus and assigned a 30 percent rating effective from April 4, 2006. The Veteran's bilateral pes planus was also granted an increased evaluation to 30 percent.

The Veteran's claim for TDIU is granted, effective February 2, 1998. Service connection for depression was granted with a 20% disability rating and an effective date of February 9, 1999.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for residuals of a lumbar spine injury, left hip disability, and left leg radiculopathy have been granted.

The Veteran's disabilities do not meet the criteria for special monthly pension based on need for aid and attendance or housebound status.

The Board found no evidence of a low back disorder in service or related to the Veteran's service-connected left great toe disability, and thus denied the claim for service connection.

The Veteran's claims for service connection are being remanded due to the need for additional VA examinations.

The Board has determined that the decision to deny purchase of a 'Total Gym' for home use as part of an outpatient physical therapy plan is not within its jurisdiction and thus dismisses the appeal.

The Board remanded the case for re-adjudication of the issue on appeal, which was to determine whether new and material evidence had been submitted to reopen the claim of service connection for a back disorder. The RO did not properly re-adjudicate this issue but instead continued to consider it as a claim to reopen.

The Veteran's claims for increased disability ratings and service connection were denied. The cervical spine condition was not found to warrant a rating higher than 10 percent, the low back disability with degenerative disc disease did not meet criteria for a higher evaluation, ureterolithiasis was rated at 10 percent prior to March 14, 2001 and above 10 percent thereafter, plantar fasciitis and heel spur of the right foot were rated as non-compensable, and hypertension was not found to be service-connected.

The Veteran's osteoarthritis of the thoracic and lumbar spine with kyphosis is found to be related to his period of active service.

The Veteran's claim for an increased rating for his service-connected back disability was denied because he failed to cooperate in scheduling a VA examination, resulting in the examination not being possible.

The Board has remanded the case due to incomplete service records and outstanding SSA records. The Veteran's claim for service connection for a low back disability will be reconsidered after obtaining these records and scheduling a VA examination.

The Veteran's claim for TDIU is being remanded due to the need for additional medical examination and review of his employment history.