Back / lumbar spine Board decisions

The veteran's spine disability, characterized by radiculopathy and limited motion, has been granted a 60 percent rating.

The Board has determined that additional development is required in order to comply with the duty to assist, including scheduling a new VA examination for the veteran's service-connected low back disorder and migraine headaches.

The Board has determined that new and material evidence has been submitted to reopen the appellant's claim of entitlement to service connection for a back disability.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for hearing loss of the right ear, low back disability including arthritis, bilateral hip disability including arthritis, and bilateral knee disability including arthritis. The evidence did not support a finding that these conditions were incurred in or aggravated by active service.

The veteran's appeal is being remanded due to the need for additional evidence and consideration of revised rating criteria. The case will be returned to the Board after further development.

The veteran's service-connected chronic low back disorder is manifested by symptoms in an unexceptional disability picture that approximate slight limitation of motion or characteristic pain on motion, and moderate incomplete paralysis of the sciatic nerve. The Board has assigned a 30 percent rating for this condition.

The Board has granted a 40 percent rating for the veteran's service-connected lumbosacral sprain, effective September 26, 2003. The claim for service connection of a bilateral shoulder disability is also granted.

The Board found no evidence of any current right or left knee, hip, or back disorders attributable to the appellant's military service.

The veteran's service-connected conditions do not meet the criteria for financial assistance in the purchase of an automobile and adaptive equipment or adaptive equipment only, as he does not have loss or permanent loss of use of one or both feet.

The Board denied the veteran's claims of service connection for a back disorder and bilateral knee disorders, as well as his claim for an initial evaluation in excess of 10 percent for glaucoma. The appeal is not about service connection at all.

The veteran's appeal is being remanded for further development, including a VA examination. The issues are whether he should receive an increased rating for his low back disorder and whether new evidence supports reopening his claim of service connection for bilateral hearing loss.

The Board found no evidence linking the veteran's current low back disorder or bilateral hearing loss to her service, and denied both claims.

The veteran's claim for an increased evaluation of his low back strain with traumatic arthritis was denied as he failed to report for a scheduled VA examination without good cause.

The Board has determined that the veteran's low back disorder was not incurred in or aggravated by his military service and denied his claim.

The Board denied the veteran's claim for service connection of a low back disorder, finding no probative medical evidence linking his current condition to his military service or any service-connected condition.

The Board has determined that the veteran's back disability was not incurred or aggravated during service and is not otherwise related to service. As a result, the claim for service connection for a back disability is denied.

The Board found no evidence of a chronic low back disorder present in service or for many years thereafter, and concluded that the veteran's current condition is not related to his military service.

The Board has remanded the veteran's claims due to incomplete development and need for additional examinations.

The veteran's claim for a TDIU is being remanded due to the need for additional development, including consideration of new evidence and clarification from the examiner regarding whether he reviewed the claims file.

The case has been remanded for further development of the veteran's service connection claims, including obtaining medical records and verifying his alleged shore duty in Vietnam.