Back / lumbar spine Board decisions

The Board found no evidence of a current back disability and denied the veteran's claim for service connection.

The Board has determined that new and material evidence has been presented to reopen the veteran's claim for service connection of a low back disability. The claim is granted as the evidence supports the conclusion that the current low back disability originated in service.

The Board has remanded the case due to incomplete records and further examination is required.

The veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including VA examinations to assess the severity of her low back disorder and flat feet. The case will be returned to the Board for further review.

The veteran's claim for service connection for paravertebral myositis, degenerative joint disease of the lumbar spine and chronic low back pain (claimed as a low back condition) is being remanded due to the need to obtain additional medical records from Social Security Administration.

The veteran's combined service-connected disabilities, which include multiple knee and hip injuries along with arthritis and anxiety/depression, render him unable to secure or follow substantially gainful employment. The Board has granted a TDIU based on these conditions.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for low back strain, left elbow disability, and bilateral knee disability. The VA found no evidence of a current disability related to these conditions.

The veteran's lumbosacral strain with disc space narrowing was initially rated at 20 percent prior to September 23, 2002. From that date, the rating was increased to 50 percent.

The Board has determined that the veteran's right ankle disability is not service-connected, and his bilateral knee and low back disabilities are also denied. The claim for a compensable evaluation for residuals of a compound alveolus fracture of the mandible was withdrawn by the veteran.

The veteran's right knee disorder is not service connected. The Board has dismissed this issue due to the veteran withdrawing his appeal prior to a decision by the Board. His back disorder was also found not to be service-connected, and he does have a separate rating for an acquired neuropsychiatric disorder.

The Board has decided the veteran's claim for headaches and is remanding the issue of lumbosacral strain evaluation due to lack of recent VA examination.

The veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining medical records and providing proper VCAA notice.

The veteran's claims for service connection for low back and skin conditions have not been reopened. Service connection for hypertension has been denied. The status of the remaining issues is pending.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for a psychiatric disability, an initial evaluation in excess of 30 percent for migraine headaches, and an initial evaluation in excess of 10 percent for acne vulgaris. The appeal was not about service connection for low back disorder.

The veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including VA examinations and consideration of the recently received service medical records.

The Board denied the veteran's claim for an earlier effective date for service connection of her degenerative disc disease of the lumbar spine, finding that December 7, 2000 was the earliest date on which a VA examiner concluded that her back condition was related to her service-connected left ankle disability.

The veteran's claim for an effective date earlier than September 27, 2001, for a rating of 10 percent for his service-connected low back disability is denied as there is no indication that the RO received the veteran's increased rating claim prior to September 27, 2001, or that his disability increased in severity during the one year prior to September 27, 2001.

The veteran's claim for service connection for PTSD is granted. The Board finds that the veteran engaged in combat with the enemy and his lay testimony regarding the stressors he experienced during his service in Saudi Arabia is accepted as conclusive evidence of their occurrence.

The Board has determined that the veteran's chronic low back disorder, diagnosed as degenerative disc disease, is attributable to his active service and grants service connection for this condition.

The Board has determined that the veteran's low back disorder is service-connected, as it began during his military service. The gastrointestinal issues are also found to be related to service due to medication use for other service-connected conditions.