Back / lumbar spine Board decisions

The veteran's claims for increased ratings and service connection were denied. The lumbar spine disorder was rated at 10 percent, and the right knee disorder was also rated at 10 percent.

The veteran's claims for service connection are being remanded to obtain additional medical opinions and verify his Gulf War service.

The veteran seeks service connection for a right ankle fracture and degenerative joint disease of the lumbosacral spine, claiming these conditions are related to his military service. The case is being remanded due to incomplete records and further examination is needed.

The veteran's appeal is remanded for additional development, including obtaining a DA20 and VA examinations to determine the likelihood of service connection for his back disorders and bilateral hearing loss.

The Board has reopened the claim of service connection for low back disability and determined that a current disability is causally related to service. The claims for left knee and right knee disabilities were not substantiated by the evidence provided.

The veteran's appeal is remanded for further development, including obtaining updated medical records and scheduling examinations to determine the impact of his disabilities on his ability to work.

The veteran's claims for increased ratings and service connection were denied. The cervical spine disorder claim is considered 'unknown' as it does not pertain to a specific exposure basis or presumption.

The Board found that the veteran does not have any of the claimed conditions and therefore denied service connection for all issues.

The Board found that the veteran's residuals of a left knee injury were not incurred in or aggravated by his active duty service, and denied his claim for service connection.

The Board has decided to remand the case for additional development of the record, including obtaining medical records and clinical records from Social Security Administration.

The veteran's claims for service connection for back and leg disorders are being remanded due to the lack of available service medical records. The VA is instructed to attempt to obtain relevant hospital records from Japan, request alternative evidence from the veteran, and schedule a VA examination.

The Board of Veterans' Appeals has determined that the veteran does not have degenerative joint disease and discogenic disease of the lumbar spine related to his active military service or a service-connected disability.

The Board found no evidence to support service connection for a low back disability and denied the claim. The rating for PTSD was increased to 50 percent, effective January 14, 2000.

The Board found that the veteran's current back, obesity, and sleep apnea disabilities are not related to his military service. The RO denied these claims.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for back disorder, anemia, and neck disability. The evidence did not establish a current disability or link to military service.

The RO granted increased evaluations for the veteran's right knee disability, bilateral pes planus, and status post fracture of the right distal tibia and fibula. The initial evaluation for chronic intermittent low back strain was also granted.

The Board denied service connection for a back disorder secondary to the service-connected left hip disorder, and also denied an increased evaluation for the left hip disability and TDIU.

The veteran's service-connected lumbar strain/degenerative disc disease is currently rated at 40 percent, the maximum schedular rating for severe limitation of motion. The VA examiner found no evidence of incapacitating episodes, radiculopathy, or ankylosis.

The veteran's claim for an increased evaluation for his service-connected disabilities, including asthmatic bronchitis, myositis of the lumbar spine, conjunctivitis, histoplasmosis, and bilateral hearing loss, was granted. The effective date for a TDIU is set at March 19, 1991.

The Board has granted the veteran's claims for an increased evaluation for degenerative disc disease L4-L5 and service connection for a mood disorder as secondary to his service-connected lumbar disability. The TDIU rating claim is not addressed in this decision.