Back / lumbar spine Board decisions

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for an initial rating in excess of 20 percent for his lumbar spine disability and denied entitlement to a TDIU.

The Veteran's appeal of service connection for a low back disorder has been remanded due to the failure to appear at his scheduled Travel Board hearing. The case will be returned to the RO for further action.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development due to issues related to service connection for degenerative disc disease of the lumbar spine.

The Veteran's initial disability ratings for his service-connected lumbosacral strain with marked degenerative disc disease at L5 to S1 were denied prior to January 30, 2002 and as of January 30, 2002. The current rating is 20 percent.

The Veteran is entitled to nonservice-connected pension benefits due to a permanent and total disability from his lung disorder, which limits him to sedentary or moderately physical positions.

The Board found that the Veteran's current low back condition is not related to his military service and denied his claim for service connection.

The Board has reopened the Veteran's claims for service connection for right knee and low back disorders based on new evidence provided by a private physician. The case is now remanded to provide appropriate VA examinations and opinions.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for further development, including obtaining updated medical records and scheduling a VA examination to assess the severity of his service-connected lumbosacral strain.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's service-connected lumbar and dorsal spine disabilities do not warrant a higher disability rating based on the current evidence of record. The RO's decision to deny increased ratings for these conditions is upheld.

The Veteran's appeals for higher initial ratings for his service-connected right shoulder disability and associated scar, as well as for an initial compensable rating for his service-connected right inguinal hernia repair, were dismissed due to the Veteran's request to withdraw these issues. The issue of service connection for a back disorder was also addressed but is being remanded.

The Veteran's claim for an increased initial evaluation for his service-connected lumbosacral spine degenerative disc disease with spondylolisis and occasional radiation to the lower extremities is being remanded due to the need for additional medical records.

The Veteran's claims for earlier effective dates for service connection were denied. The April 1953 rating decision denying service connection for a back disorder was not found to contain CUE.

The Board has determined that service connection is warranted for the Veteran's left ankle disorder, but denied his claims of service connection for other conditions.

The Board has determined that additional evidentiary development is necessary prior to the adjudication of the appellant's claims for service connection for right ear hearing loss and DDD of the lumbar spine. The case is REMANDED to the RO via the Appeals Management Center (AMC) in Washington, DC.

The Board has remanded the case for further development, including obtaining updated medical records and scheduling VA examinations to determine the etiology of the Veteran's low back disorder and COPD.

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

The Board found no medical evidence linking the Veteran's current degenerative joint disease of the lumbar spine to his service, and denied the claim for service connection.

The Veteran's claim is being remanded due to the need for additional medical records and a neurological examination.

The Veteran's nonservice-connected disabilities do not render him so helpless as to need regular aid and attendance in the activities of daily living, thus denying his claim for special monthly pension based on the need for aid and attendance.

The Veteran's appeal was denied as the current evaluations for lumbosacral strain, migraine headache disorder, and major depressive disorder with social phobia are deemed adequate.