Back / lumbar spine Board decisions

The Board found no clear and unmistakable error in the August 2005 rating decision that assigned an effective date of July 30, 2004 for service connection of degenerative disc disease at L4-S1 with small herniated nucleus pulposus and radiculopathy. The appeal is denied.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for additional development, including obtaining records from his place of employment and reviewing service treatment records. The Veteran is also asked to submit an original letter dated July 1961.

The Veteran's low back disability was initially granted with a noncompensable rating, and later increased to 10 percent effective March 17, 2008. The current appeal is about maintaining the 10 percent rating.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities did not preclude him from securing or following substantially gainful employment prior to April 23, 2002. The claim for TDIU is denied for the period prior to this date.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's current lumbar spine disability, including degenerative disc disease, is likely due to an injury sustained in service and grants service connection for this condition.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings and service connection were denied. The Veteran was granted a TDIU rating effective March 6, 2009.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims of service connection for a low back disorder and an acquired psychiatric disorder, finding that there was no evidence of chronic symptoms during or after service, and concluding that any current conditions are not related to service.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient evidence and further development is needed, including a VA examination.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for a low back disability, an increased rating for diabetes mellitus, and TDIU based on service-connected disabilities. The denial was due to lack of evidence establishing a relationship between the Veteran's current low back disability and his military service.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development due to incomplete verification of service stressors and further examination regarding the Veteran's claimed disabilities.

The appellant withdrew his appeal regarding the claim of entitlement to an effective date prior to October 23, 2002, for a grant of service connection for lumbar degenerative disc disease.

The Veteran's tinnitus and back disability are both found to be related to service, with the Board granting service connection for both conditions.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including degenerative disc disease of the lumbar spine and peripheral neuropathy, are found to be so severe that they prevent him from obtaining or maintaining substantially gainful employment.

The Veteran's claims for service connection were denied. The Board found no evidence of a current disability and could not establish a link between any claimed conditions and service.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss is not related to his active duty service. The Board finds that the Veteran's back and bilateral knee conditions are secondary to his service-connected left foot plantar keratosis.

The Board has remanded the case due to the need for additional evidence regarding the Veteran's treatment records from Dr. Webster and Wilmington Health Associates, as well as a VA medical opinion on whether the service-connected lumbar spine disability contributed to the Veteran's death.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for spondylolisthesis and L5-S1 radiculopathy were denied. The RO granted a 40 percent rating for spondylolisthesis effective from February 24, 2006.

The Board denied service connection for a back disability and sleep apnea, finding no evidence of such conditions during or immediately after service. The Veteran's current symptoms were not shown to be related to his military service.

The Veteran does not currently have any of the claimed conditions and there is no service connection granted for any condition.

The Veteran's degenerative joint disease of the lumbosacral spine was granted a 10 percent evaluation prior to June 24, 2009 and denied any higher rating since that date.