Back / lumbar spine Board decisions

The veteran's appeal for increased ratings was denied, with the exception of a grant of service connection and a 10% rating for bilateral degenerative arthritis of the knees. The other conditions were not granted increased ratings.

The Board found that the veteran's current chronic low back disability was not incurred in or aggravated by his active duty service.

The veteran's claim for an earlier effective date for a 40% evaluation of his service-connected low back disorder was denied as the earliest ascertainable date of increased disability was June 20, 2000.

The veteran's service-connected back disability requires regular aid and attendance, meeting the criteria for special monthly compensation based on need for aid and attendance.

The veteran is seeking service connection for degenerative joint disease of the lumbar spine and right hip, which he claims is secondary to his service-connected arthritis of the right knee. The case must be remanded for additional development including obtaining medical records and arranging for a VA examination.

The Board has remanded the case due to procedural issues and the need for additional development, including obtaining medical records and employment information.

The Board has remanded the veteran's claims for increased ratings for lumbosacral strain and PTSD due to incomplete development of records, including Social Security Administration (SSA) records and VA examination reports. The RO is instructed to obtain these records and ensure compliance with all notification requirements under the Veterans Claims Assistance Act of 2000.

The Board has determined that the veteran's current low back disability is related to his service, and thus grants service connection for this condition.

The Board has ordered the case to be remanded for additional development and consideration of whether new and material evidence has been submitted to reopen a claim of entitlement to service connection for low back disability.

The Board has remanded the case for further development and consideration.

The Board found no evidence of a low back injury during service and concluded that the current low back disability is not related to service. The claim for service connection was denied.

The veteran's claim for an increased rating for his service-connected lumbosacral spine disorder is being remanded due to procedural issues and the need for further development, including obtaining treatment records from Dr. Oppy and scheduling a VA orthopedic examination.

The Board denied the veteran's claim for an earlier effective date for service connection of his left shoulder disability, finding that the earliest possible effective date is July 26, 2001. The Board also deferred consideration of the issue regarding a low back disorder pending additional development.

The Board has denied the veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral pes planus with tarsal arthritis and a back disorder due to lack of evidence supporting these claims.

The Board has remanded the issues of service connection for hayfever/allergies and residuals of a low back injury to the RO for further development. The issue of whether new and material evidence has been received to reopen the claim of service connection for residuals of a low back injury is also being addressed.

The Board has determined that the veteran's current diagnosed conditions, including arthritis of multiple joints, are related to his service-connected shrapnel wounds and thus grants service connection for these disabilities.

The veteran's claim for an effective date prior to November 30, 2000 for the award of service connection for recurrent lumbar strain is being remanded due to VCAA compliance issues.

The Board has determined that the veteran's current back condition is service-connected, as it was caused by a fall on his back due to an unstable right knee disability.

The Board has determined that the veteran does not have a low back disorder, bilateral hip disorders, or bilateral leg disorders related to his service-connected residuals of a fracture of the right tibia and hammertoes. The VA examination did not find any secondary skeletal pathology.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development and to cure a procedural defect. The veteran's appeal is now pending with the RO.