Back / lumbar spine Board decisions

The Board has found new and material evidence to reopen the veteran's claim of service connection for a low back disorder. However, additional development is necessary as the underlying claim remains on appeal.

The Board has determined that the veteran's PTSD is service-connected due to credible evidence of exposure to combat-compatible circumstances during his Southeast Asia service. The chronic back, hip, and TMJ disorders are not service-connected as there is no medical evidence linking these conditions to service or any other service-connected condition.

The veteran is seeking service connection for his low back injuries, which he claims occurred during active duty. The VA has ordered additional development to determine the nature and etiology of any current low back disability.

The Board has determined that the veteran's cervical and lumbar spine disorders are secondary to his service-connected bilateral pes planus, and thus grants service connection for these conditions.

The veteran's claims for service connection for back and right hip disabilities are being remanded due to the need for additional development, including obtaining private treatment records and any Workers' Compensation records.

The Board found that the veteran's symptoms of back and right foot disorders are not related to his military service, and thus denied service connection for these conditions.

The veteran's appeal was denied for increased ratings of lumbar strain and major depressive disorder, as well as service connection for psychiatric disorders other than major depression. The TDIU claim is also pending.

The veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining VA medical records and scheduling examinations to assess his service-connected back disability and any psychiatric disorder.

The Board has granted an increased evaluation to 40 percent for the service-connected degenerative disc disease at L4-5, effective from February 6, 2002.

The veteran was found to be individually unemployable by reason of service-connected disabilities, effective from March 9, 1995.

The Board has determined that additional development of the medical evidence is necessary due to conflicting opinions regarding the veteran's lumbar spine disability.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development due to failure to comply with a previous remand order. The veteran's claim of service connection for post-operative residuals of lumbar diskectomy is being reviewed de novo.

The case is being remanded for further development to determine the dates of service and any related work-related injuries, as well as to obtain a VA examination to assess the relationship between current back and thigh problems and service.

The veteran's depressive reaction with PTSD and chronic thoracic-lumbar strain have been granted higher ratings, but not to the maximum allowed under VA regulations.

The veteran's service-connected thoraco-lumbar strain is currently rated at 40 percent, but the Board found that his condition did not warrant an evaluation in excess of this rating.

The Board has determined that the veteran's current cervical spine disability, including arthritis and degenerative disc disease, is not related to service. The evidence does not establish a nexus between any in-service injury or trauma and his current condition.

The Board has remanded the case for further development, including new VA examinations and consideration of the appropriate rating criteria.

The veteran's service-connected disabilities do not meet the criteria for a certificate of eligibility for assistance in acquiring specially adapted housing or necessary special home adaptations due to lack of evidence showing loss of use of one or both lower extremities.

The VA determined that the veteran's back disability was not incurred or aggravated by his military service.

The veteran's diabetes mellitus, type II, is granted as incurred in service. The claims for hearing loss and tinnitus are reopened due to new evidence received since the previous denial. The claims for residuals of low back injury, neck injury, bilateral leg disability, knee disability, and foot disabilities remain denied.