Back / lumbar spine Board decisions

The Board has determined that new and material evidence has not been received to reopen the claim of service connection for a back disability. The issue of increased ratings for bilateral defective hearing is addressed, with separate determinations made for periods prior to February 1, 2002, and on or subsequent to February 1, 2002.

The Board has determined that the veteran's low back disorder is reasonably attributable to service, and grants service connection for this condition.

The Board finds that the veteran does not have a bilateral hip disability, a bilateral knee disability, a bilateral ankle disability, a thoracic spine disability, or a lumbar spine disability. Therefore, service connection for these conditions is denied.

The Board has determined that the veteran's low back disorder is not related to his service-connected pes planus and therefore denied the claim for service connection.

The Board denied the veteran's claim for service connection for residuals of a back injury, finding no competent evidence linking his current lumbar spine conditions to an in-service injury. The only evidence supporting the claim were the veteran's lay statements.

The Board has remanded the case for further development due to incomplete information and potential errors in previous communications.

The veteran's claims for service connection for post-traumatic stress disorder, fibromyalgia, and a chronic low back disability were denied as there is no objective evidence of current diagnoses or clinical nexus to his military service.

The Board has reopened the claim of entitlement to service connection for low back disorders and granted service connection based on medical evidence linking current low back disorders to military service.

The Board has determined that the veteran's hearing loss in the left ear had its onset during service and granted service connection for this condition. The Board also found no current disability of the left knee or chronic low back disability, thus denying these claims.

The VA determined that the veteran's lumbosacral strain does not warrant a rating higher than 10 percent, based on his symptoms and physical examination findings.

The veteran's claims for service connection for various conditions, including bursitis/degenerative joint disease of the left shoulder, dental disability, PTSD, gastroesophageal reflux disorder, coronary artery disease, and lumbar degenerative disc disease, were denied. The conditions are not considered to be related to military service.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including obtaining medical records and providing a VA examination to determine the nature and etiology of the veteran's back disability.

The Board has denied the veteran's claims for service connection for low back and left hip disabilities due to a lack of competent evidence showing current disabilities related to service.

The Board granted service connection for disabilities of the left knee, left hip, and low back effective May 17, 2000. The claim for a left ankle disability was also granted effective May 17, 2000. No earlier effective dates are warranted.

The veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development of his medical records and a new VA examination to assess the severity of his service-connected low back disability.

The Board has remanded the case for further development and consideration of the veteran's claims, including a VA genitourinary examination for prostatitis and a statement of the case addressing service connection for lumbar disc disease secondary to lumbar strain.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including obtaining medical records and scheduling VA examinations to determine the nature and etiology of the veteran's claimed conditions.

The Board has remanded the case for further development, including obtaining medical records and providing the veteran with VA examinations to determine the nature, extent, and etiology of his kidney disorder and back disability. The claims will be re-adjudicated after this additional development.

The Board has remanded the case for further development due to a failure to report for a VA examination and disparity in the veteran's address.

The veteran's claims for increased ratings and a total disability rating based on individual unemployability (TDIU) were denied due to his failure to report for scheduled VA examinations in August 2004.