Back / lumbar spine Board decisions

The Board finds that the appellant was unemployable due to his service-connected lumbar spine disability as of January 23, 2006 and grants an effective date for TDIU based on this determination.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded for additional development, including a VA examination to assess the current orthopedic and neurological manifestations of his low back disability.

The Board found that the Veteran's death was not due to a service-connected disability or his active service, and denied the claim for service connection for the cause of death.

The Veteran's degenerative disc disease of the lower back has been rated at 10 percent, which is the maximum schedular rating available. The evidence does not support a higher rating as there are no findings indicating ankylosis or incapacitating episodes that would warrant a higher evaluation.

The Board has granted service connection for tinnitus and found that the Veteran's tinnitus is related to his active military service. The claim for an initial rating in excess of 10 percent for degenerative disc disease of the lumbar spine is remanded due to lack of recent VA medical records.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development of evidence, including a VA examination to determine if any current back or skin conditions are related to service.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for Posttraumatic Stress Disorder, bilateral hearing loss, a low back disorder secondary to left knee degenerative joint disease, and arthritis of the right knee secondary to left knee degenerative joint disease. The evidence did not support these claims as they were determined to be either not incurred or aggravated in service.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient consideration of whether a VA examination was warranted and because the unavailability of some service treatment records may have affected the decision. The Veteran is also required to be scheduled for an appropriate VA examination to determine if they have a back disability related to service.

The Veteran's service-connected PTSD and other disabilities have combined to meet the criteria for a total disability rating based on individual unemployability.

The Board found no current low back disorder and concluded that the Veteran's subjective complaints of pain do not constitute a disability for which service connection may be granted. The preponderance of evidence does not support direct service connection.

The Board has remanded the case for further development, including obtaining medical records and Social Security Administration disability file.

The Veteran's claims for service connection and increased ratings were denied. The case was remanded multiple times, but the final decision upheld the initial denial of service connection for a low back disorder and granted a 30 percent disability rating for right knee traumatic synovitis with incoordination secondary to pain from February 17, 1998 to December 29, 2002. The Veteran's claim for an increased rating for his right total knee replacement was also denied.

The Board has remanded the case for further development due to inadequate medical examination and consideration of new evidence.

The Board denied service connection for a psychiatric disorder claimed as stress and anxiety disorder, and for a low back disorder. The Veteran's claims were based on direct evidence rather than presumptive exposure to environmental factors or other theories.

The Veteran's appeal was denied for increased ratings and a separate rating for arthritis, as well as TDIU. The Board found that the current evidence did not meet the criteria for an increased rating in excess of 20 percent for lumbosacral strain or a separate rating for arthritis.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development due to insufficient evidence regarding the severity of the Veteran's service-connected low back disability and whether his current symptoms are related to his non-service-connected disabilities.

The Board found that the Veteran's service-connected IVDS, post operative laminectomy and lumbar fusion warrants a disability rating of 40 percent, effective from May 1, 2005. The decision also addressed separate ratings for radiculopathy in both lower extremities.

The Veteran's appeal has been withdrawn prior to the Board making a decision.

The Board has remanded the case for a Travel Board hearing due to the appellant's request.

The Board has remanded the case for further development due to issues with representation and documentation.