Back / lumbar spine decisions — 2012

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for additional development due to inadequate VA examinations and incomplete evidence. The Veteran is entitled to a new examination and opinion regarding his claimed back and chest disorders.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's upper and lower back disabilities are related to service, with the July 2012 VA examiner providing a more favorable opinion than the September 2011 VA examiner.

The Veteran's lumbar spine disability is currently rated at 40 percent, which is the maximum schedular rating available for this condition. The Board finds that the current evaluation adequately reflects the severity of his service-connected lumbar spine disability.

The Veteran's service connection claims for various knee, elbow, back, ankle, and hand disabilities are granted.

The Veteran's appeal for service connection on the issues of bilateral hearing loss, PTSD, vision loss, athlete's foot, stomach disorder, right shoulder disorder, and low back disorder has been withdrawn.

The Veteran is entitled to a total disability rating for compensation purposes based on individual unemployability prior to April 28, 2010 due to service-connected disabilities preventing him from obtaining or retaining substantial gainful employment.

The Veteran seeks service connection for a left shoulder disorder and a back disorder, including as due to his left shoulder disorder. The case is REMANDED to obtain additional medical records and provide the Veteran with an appropriate VA examination.

The Veteran's disability rating for residuals of compression fracture at L4 with degenerative disc disease was denied as his current range of motion did not meet the criteria for a higher rating.

The Board found that the Veteran's current low back disorder is not related to his service and denied his claim for service connection.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for further development, including obtaining VA treatment records and scheduling a new examination for his PTSD. The TDIU claim is also being considered as part of the higher rating claims.

The Veteran's initial rating for lumbar radiculopathy of the right lower extremity was reduced from 10 percent to a non-compensable rating effective March 29, 2011. Prior to this date, his disability was rated as 10 percent.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded due to the need for additional VA examination and treatment records. The issue of service connection for a middle back disorder will be reconsidered based on the new evidence.

The Veteran's claims of service connection for upper and lower back disabilities were denied in a July 2007 rating decision. The Board is remanding the case to obtain additional evidence, including service personnel records, and to schedule the Veteran for a VA examination.

The Board has decided to remand the case for further development, including obtaining private medical records and scheduling a VA examination. The Veteran's claim will be reconsidered after these actions.

The Board denied reopening the claims of service connection for a low back disability and residuals of a fractured mandible, as new and material evidence was not presented.

The Board has reopened the Veteran's claim of service connection for a back disability due to new and material evidence. The case is remanded for further development, including obtaining VA treatment records, scheduling a VA examination, and affording the Veteran his requested videoconference hearing.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for further development, including VA examinations and medical opinions regarding his claimed bilateral knee disorder, lower back disorder, and diabetes mellitus, type 2.

The Board has determined that additional development is needed, including obtaining outstanding VA treatment records and scheduling a VA examination. The appeal will be returned to the RO for further action.

The Veteran's degenerative joint disease of the lumbar spine was evaluated at a 20 percent rating, which is the maximum schedular evaluation available for this condition. The Board found that his symptoms did not warrant an increase in disability ratings.

The Veteran's service-connected low back disability is currently rated at 20 percent, and his right knee disability at 20 percent. Both conditions have been denied for increased ratings.