Back / lumbar spine Board decisions

The Board denied the claim of service connection for a low back disability, finding that the current condition is unrelated to an injury or event during service.

The Board found that there is no medical evidence relating the Veteran's current bilateral knee disability, lower back disability, and Achilles tendonitis to active military service. The claims for service connection were denied.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development due to inadequate examination reports and other issues.

The Board has determined that new and material evidence was not received to reopen the claim for service connection for a low back disability. The April 1983 rating decision denying this claim is final.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's lumbar spine degenerative disease, right foot fracture residuals, and left foot disorder are all related to service. Service connection is granted for these conditions.

The Veteran's cervical spine disability is rated at 40 percent, and the lumbar spine disability is rated at 10 percent prior to May 8, 2008. The right hand neuropathy was initially rated at 10 percent but has been severed.

The Veteran's claim for increased ratings for his service-connected degenerative joint disease of the lumbar spine is being remanded due to incomplete development.

The Board found that the Veteran's death was not due to his service-connected back disorder, and thus denied the claim for service connection for the cause of death.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities preclude him from securing and following substantially gainful employment, warranting a total disability rating based on individual unemployability.

The Board has granted service connection for a low back disability as secondary to a right leg disability, but denied service connection for a shortened right leg and bilateral hearing loss. The claim of service connection for herpes remains pending.

The Board has determined that the Veteran is unemployable due to her service-connected disabilities, and therefore grants a total disability rating based upon individual unemployability (TDIU).

The VA denied the claims for increased ratings for right and left knee disabilities, finding that the evidence did not support a higher rating based on current functional impairment.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for further development due to incomplete records from Fort Bliss and Fort Lewis.

The Board denied service connection for low back disability, loss of teeth, and residuals of injury to the hip and stomach muscles due to a lack of evidence showing a current disability or a link between these conditions and military service.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development of the record, including obtaining medical records and scheduling a VA examination.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for a low back disorder and right wrist disorder (originally claimed as carpal tunnel syndrome of the right wrist) due to lack of competent evidence showing current disabilities or a nexus to military service.

The Board has granted service connection for degenerative disc disease of the cervical and lumbar spine, finding that the Veteran's current symptoms are related to her active military service.

The Veteran's claims of service connection for a back condition and asbestosis are being remanded due to the need for VCAA compliance, clarification of medical records, and further examination.

The Veteran's back and neck disabilities are found to have begun during her military service, granting service connection for these conditions.

The Veteran's claims for increased evaluations of his service-connected low back and bilateral knee disabilities were denied by the Board. The evidence did not show flexion of the lumbar spine to 30 degrees or less, favorable ankylosis of the entire thoracolumbar spine, or incapacitating episodes due to the service-connected low back disability. Range of motion for both knees was no worse than from 0 to 95 degrees.