Back / lumbar spine Board decisions

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including obtaining updated medical records and scheduling VA examinations to assess the severity of the appellant's service-connected lumbosacral strain. The RO must also ensure compliance with VCAA notice requirements.

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

The veteran's degenerative joint disease of the lumbar spine was rated at 10% prior to April 25, 2003 and increased to 20% effective from April 25, 2003.

The Board has determined that new and material evidence has been submitted to reopen the claim of entitlement to service connection for a chronic acquired low back disorder claimed as residuals of injury, which was previously denied in December 1976.

The Board denied the veteran's claim for a temporary total convalescent rating under 38 C.F.R. § 4.30 based on outpatient treatment in May 1999 due to lack of severe postoperative residuals.

The Board has determined that the veteran's low back disorder is aggravated by his service-connected pes planus, and thus grants service connection for this condition on a secondary basis.

The veteran's claims for service connection, TDIU, and special monthly compensation are being remanded due to the need for additional examinations and development of evidence.

The veteran's low back disability, characterized by anterior wedging of the L1 vertebra, is rated at 10 percent. The RO granted an increased rating for this condition.

The Board granted service connection for a low back disability and assigned a noncompensable rating prior to March 23, 1998, and a 10 percent rating thereafter. The issues of bilateral hearing loss and a contusion of the thigh muscle were also addressed.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for sterility, left knee injury, and spine disabilities. The denial of service connection was based on a presumption of herbicide exposure in Vietnam.

The Board has determined that new and material evidence has been received to reopen the claim for service connection for lumbosacral strain. The veteran's current condition is related to his service-connected knee disability, as indicated by a private physician.

The veteran's claim for service connection for a low back disability is being remanded due to incomplete VA medical records and the need for further examination.

The Board has determined that new and material evidence has been received to reopen the claim of service connection for a back disorder. The veteran's current medical records, including those from Dr. Skinner, indicate possible links between his current musculoskeletal complaints and his military experience in Vietnam. However, additional development is needed to determine if these conditions are causally related to his active service.

The Board has remanded the veteran's claims for service connection due to incomplete records and a need for additional development, including obtaining medical records and conducting examinations.

The VA has determined that the veteran is individually unemployable due to service-connected lumbosacral strain with degenerative disc disease and right foot drop, and granted a total disability rating based on individual unemployability.

The Board found that the veteran's current low back disorder did not develop during service and is not related to any incident in service. The arthritis of the spine was also not shown within a year after separation from service, and therefore cannot be presumed to have been incurred in service.

The veteran's claim for an increased evaluation for his service-connected low back strain is being remanded due to the need for a more recent VA examination and additional development of medical records.

The veteran's claim of entitlement to service connection for a low back disorder is being remanded due to the need for additional development, including obtaining medical records and arranging for an examination.

The Board found that the veteran's low back disorder and hypertension were not incurred or aggravated by service, and thus denied both claims.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for hysterectomy, degenerative joint disease of the lumbosacral spine, and left leg and left knee disability. The Board found that the veteran did not have a hysterectomy attributable to her military service.