Back / lumbar spine Board decisions

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for left knee and back disabilities, finding that there is no competent evidence linking these conditions to his active duty or to his service-connected right knee disability.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are likely due to in-service acoustic trauma, while his low back injury residuals may be related to service. The claim for low back injury residuals is being remanded.

The Veteran's claim for an increased rating for his service-connected degenerative disc disease of the lower lumbar spine is being remanded due to concerns about the adequacy of the November 2006 examination.

The Board has found that further development is required to determine the nature and etiology of the Veteran's back disorder, including whether it is related to service or her service-connected foot disorders.

The Veteran's low back degenerative disc, joint, and facet disease has not been shown to meet the criteria for a higher disability rating.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for a low back disability and a right knee disability have been denied as there is no evidence of a nexus between the disabilities and his military service.

The Board has determined that new and material evidence has been received to reopen the claims for service connection for low back disorder, migraine headaches, lower extremity disorder, respiratory disorder, and vision disorder. The case is being remanded for further development.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings and service connection were denied. The Board found that the Veteran did not have diabetes mellitus, hypertension, or Graves' disease attributable to his military service.

The Board has reopened the Veteran's claim of service connection for degenerative joint disease of the lumbar spine, claimed as a low back disability. The evidence presented since the previous denial shows that the current lumbar spine disability may be related to an injury or assault during service.

The Board has remanded the case to the Department of Veterans Affairs Regional Office for an opinion on whether any currently shown back disorder is attributable to service. The appellant's attorney notes that the claimant associates his back problems with his demanding in-service physical duties, such as setting up camouflage nets.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection, finding that his congenital defects of the spine were not incurred or aggravated by service.

The Veteran's service-connected lumbosacral spine disability rendered him unable to secure and follow a substantially gainful occupation from September 20, 1989 until September 17, 1993. The Board has granted TDIU effective as of September 18, 1993.

The Veteran's claim for higher evaluations for arthritis of the lumbar spine was denied. The initial evaluation prior to March 29, 2006, did not meet the criteria for an increased rating. From March 29, 2006, the criteria also did not meet for a rating in excess of 40 percent.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's lumbar spine, left shoulder, and right hip disorders are not service-connected as they do not have a direct link to his active duty service.

The Veteran's GERD and upper back disability were not found to be related to his service, leading to a denial of both claims.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's claim for service connection for a chronic back disability, claimed as residuals of a back injury, should be remanded to obtain an addendum to the September 2009 VA examiner's opinion addressing the likelihood of a relationship between the Veteran's in-service injuries and his current back disability.

The Board has determined that the appellant does not have a current disability of any claimed conditions related to service. Therefore, service connection for these conditions is denied.

The Veteran's appeal for an increased rating for residuals of a right total knee replacement is granted, with the effective date being January 1, 2006.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss and low back pain with history of sciatica, finding no new and material evidence to reopen the latter claim. The decision also concluded that there was no nexus between the current hearing loss or back disorder and service.

The Veteran's claim for an earlier effective date for a 60 percent rating for his lumbar spine disability was denied as the October 1998 decision assigning that effective date is final and no timely appeal to that decision was received.