Back / lumbar spine Board decisions

The Board has decided to remand the case for additional development due to procedural defects and the need for a VA examination.

The Board has determined that additional development is needed to properly adjudicate the veteran's claim for service connection for bilateral elbow, wrist, low back and left hip disorders. This includes obtaining medical records from various healthcare providers and scheduling a VA examination.

The Board has determined that the veteran's lumbosacral strain is related to service and grants this claim. The other issues on appeal are remanded for further development.

The Board has determined that the veteran's current left knee and low back disabilities are not related to service, and thus denied his claims for these conditions. The case is being remanded to provide a VA examination to determine if there is any relationship between the veteran's current disabilities and service.

The Board has remanded the case to the RO for further development, including a VA medical examination and readjudication of the service connection claim on the merits.

The Board has remanded the case due to incomplete service records and a need for further examination.

The veteran's disabilities do not meet the criteria for special monthly pension based on need for regular aid and attendance or being housebound.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for increased ratings for her mechanical low back pain with degenerative joint disease and migraine headaches, finding that the evidence did not support a rating in excess of 20 percent for the low back disorder or a rating in excess of 30 percent for the migraines prior to June 20, 2003, and to a rating in excess of 50 percent thereafter.

The Board found no evidence to support the veteran's claim that his current back disorder is related to service, and thus denied his application for service connection.

The veteran's appeal is being remanded for a videoconference hearing at the RO before a Member of the Board.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection of right knee, low back, and bilateral ankle conditions. The effective date for an increased rating of 20% for his left knee condition was also denied.

The Board denied the veteran's claims of entitlement to service connection for a respiratory disorder and a low back disorder, finding that there was no evidence showing a nexus between his current conditions and his military service.

The Board has granted service connection for hypertension and assigned a 40 percent rating for the veteran's low back disability, effective from December 1, 2003. The decision also addressed the veteran's claim for higher evaluation of his low back disability.

The veteran seeks service connection for a back disability. The RO will ensure that all notification and development required by the Veterans Claims Assistance Act of 2000 is completed, including providing notice as to which portion of the information and evidence is to be provided by the claimant and which will be obtained by VA on their behalf.

The Board found that the veteran's nonservice-connected disabilities did not prevent him from securing and following substantial gainful employment, thus denying his claim for a permanent and total disability rating for pension purposes.

The Board finds that the veteran does not have a current disability related to her bilateral knee conditions or low back condition. The claim for service connection is being remanded due to insufficient evidence.

The Board has determined that the veteran does not have a separate back disability and therefore, service connection for a back disability is denied.

The veteran's service-connected right knee injury is productive of moderate impairment, and he has been granted an increased rating to 20 percent. Service connection for secondary low back and right ankle disorders was also granted.

The Board has granted service connection for the veteran's low back disability as secondary to his service-connected residuals of fracture of the left tibia and left fibula. The TDIU claim is remanded for further development.

The veteran's death was caused by a non-service-connected heart disorder, but the service-connected low back disorder contributed to his health and made him less capable of resisting the effects of the primary cause of death. The Board found that the service-connected condition materially contributed to the veteran's death.