Back / lumbar spine Board decisions

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings and service connection were denied. The appeal is not about service connection at all.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for a psychiatric disorder, fibromyalgia, and a lumbar spine disorder. The evidence received since the last denial was not new and material to reopen any of these claims.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's low back disability originated during his period of active service and granted service connection for this condition.

The Veteran's claim for a disability rating in excess of 40 percent for discogenic disease of the lumbosacral spine was denied. The claims to reopen service connection for depression and tendonitis of the left shoulder were also denied, as well as the claim for sleep apnea.

The Veteran seeks service connection for a back disability, which he claims is related to an in-service injury. The Board has remanded the case for further development including obtaining medical records and scheduling a VA examination.

The Board found that the Veteran's lumbar spine degenerative disc disease and arthritis were not incurred in or aggravated by his active duty military service, nor may arthritis be presumed to have been incurred in or aggravated by such service.

The Board found no evidence of a back injury or lumbar puncture during service, and the Veteran's current degenerative disc disease is not linked to his military service. The claim for service connection was denied.

The Veteran's combined disability rating is 90 percent, and he does not meet the criteria for SMC based on need for aid and attendance or being housebound due to his physical disabilities. He also does not qualify for specially adapted housing benefits.

The Board denied service connection for low back and right wrist disabilities, finding that the character of discharge from active duty in 1988-1991 was a bar to VA benefits.

The Board has ordered a remand due to the need for additional development, including a VA examination.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's cervical and lumbar spine disorders are not related to his active military service, and thus denied the claims for service connection.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for a low back disability on a direct basis was denied. The claims for increased ratings for anxiety reaction, left knee arthritis, and left knee instability were also denied.

The Veteran's low back disorder was incurred in service and the Board grants service connection for herniated disc L5-S1, spondylolisthesis with loss of lordosis (also claimed as osteoarthritis, degenerative joint disease of the lumbar spine and spondylosis of the lumbar spine).

The Veteran's service-connected L1 posttraumatic degenerative joint disease, thoracolumbar strain is currently rated at 20 percent and the Board finds that this rating adequately reflects his current disability level.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims of service connection for prostate disorder and low back disorder, finding that there was no evidence linking these conditions to his military service.

The Veteran's degenerative disc disease of the lumbar spine does not meet the criteria for a higher evaluation, as it does not result in forward flexion of the thoracolumbar spine less than 30 degrees or with unfavorable ankylosis.

The Veteran is unable to secure and follow substantially gainful employment as a result of his service-connected disabilities, including low back disability, right knee disability, left knee disability, hypertension, right wrist disability, and left ankle disability. The Board finds that the evidence supports a TDIU on an extraschedular basis.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings are being remanded to allow for additional development of his medical records and a new VA examination.

The Board has decided to remand the case for further development, including obtaining a VA examination and attempting to obtain SSA disability records. The Veteran will also be scheduled for a hearing of his choice.

The Board has determined that new and material evidence has not been received to reopen the Veteran's claim for service connection for a back disability, including chronic residual disability of lumbar myositis and a ruptured low back disc. The claim was previously denied in August 1989 due to lack of evidence linking these conditions to service.