Back / lumbar spine Board decisions

The Board has determined that the Veteran is entitled to service connection for a low back disability, diagnosed as lumbar sprain/stain and narrowing of L5-S1 intervertebral disc space.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for radiculopathy of the lower extremities, which is claimed to be related to his service-connected thoracolumbar strain, has been remanded due to a need for additional evidence and an examination.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's headaches and low back condition both arose during active duty service, granting service connection for both conditions.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for alcoholism is denied as the law precludes such a finding after October 31, 1990.

The Board has remanded the case due to failure of the Veteran to report for VA examinations and incomplete records from the Huntington, West Virginia VA medical center. The Veteran is to be provided with a new opportunity for a VA examination.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including a VA examination to assess the severity of his lumbar spine condition and service connection for an upper back disability.

The Board granted service connection for lumbar degenerative disc disease with moderate central spinal canal stenosis and assigned an initial disability rating of 20 percent, effective June 2006. The Veteran also received separate ratings for bilateral lumbar radiculopathy.

The Veteran's claims for service connection are being remanded to obtain additional medical records, verify reported stressors, and determine the nature of his current conditions. The VA will also provide a mental disorders examination and assess whether his diagnosed conditions are related to service.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings and a TDIU are being remanded due to the need for additional examinations and development of evidence.

The Veteran's claims for service connection have been remanded due to the need for additional medical examinations and evaluations. The issues of whether new and material evidence has been received to reopen claims for service connection for a low back disorder, an acquired psychiatric disorder other than PTSD, and a neck disorder remain pending.

The Veteran's multiple disabilities, including bronchial asthma, renal insufficiency, diabetes mellitus, dextroscoliosis of the lumbar spine, osteoarthritis of both knees, and cataract, are reasonably certain to continue throughout his life and sufficiently severe to prevent him from following a substantially gainful occupation. The Board grants nonservice-connected pension benefits based on permanent and total disability.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for earlier effective dates for the grants of service connection and increased ratings, finding that no valid claim was filed prior to October 11, 2005.

The Board has determined that new and material evidence has not been received to reopen the claims for service connection for sinusitis, left wrist disability, and low back disability. As such, these claims remain denied.

The Veteran's tinnitus was found to have its onset during active service and the Board granted service connection for this condition. The claim of service connection for a back disability is remanded due to insufficient evidence.

The Board denied reopening of the claim for service connection due to lack of new and material evidence, but granted the reopened claim based on the presumption that a pre-existing back disorder was aggravated by service.

The Veteran's back, ankle, and knee disabilities are not service-connected as they do not have onset in service or within one year of service. The Board finds that the medical evidence does not support a finding that these conditions were caused by military service.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's current back condition and acquired psychiatric disorder are not related to his active service.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for a chronic back disorder, finding that there is no evidence of an in-service injury or incident leading to his current condition.

The Veteran's claim for compensation under 38 U.S.C.A. § 1151 for pain and swelling in the right hip, migraine headaches, numbness and tingling in the left hand with loss of sensation in the arms and legs, a knot on the right foot, sluggishness and lack of responsiveness, and loss of bowel control was denied due to failure to meet the criteria for compensation under 38 U.S.C.A. § 1151.

The Board found no evidence of a low back disability in service or during the first post-service year, and denied service connection for residuals of a low back injury. The Veteran's hypertension was not shown to be related to his service, and thus service connection was also denied. Service connection for diabetes mellitus was also denied as there is no evidence it became manifest in service. Bilateral hearing loss was noted on entry but did not increase during service.