Back / lumbar spine decisions — 2012

The Board has remanded the case for further development, including obtaining medical records and arranging a VA examination. The Veteran's claim of entitlement to a total disability rating based on individual unemployability due to service-connected disabilities is being addressed.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings were denied. The cervical spine disability is currently rated at 20 percent, and the headaches are rated at 30 percent.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded to obtain updated VA treatment records and conduct a new medical examination. The purpose of the remand is to clarify whether any additional low back disability resulted from an injection administered by VA for right-sided low back pain.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development due to issues related to higher disability ratings for lumbosacral strain with degenerative disc disease, left knee and right knee conditions.

The Board found no evidence of a chronic lumbar spine disorder or erectile dysfunction during service and denied the Veteran's claims for service connection on this basis.

The Board has ordered additional development of the Veteran's claims for service connection for low back and cervical spine disorders due to a missed VA examination. The case is now remanded for further action.

The Board found that the Veteran's bilateral knee and lumbar spine disorders are not related to service, with no aggravation during service. The pre-existing conditions were presumed to be sound at entry into service.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's lower back disorder is not related to service or a service-connected disability, and thus denied his claim for service connection.

The Board has decided to remand the Veteran's claims for service connection for a low back disorder and left shoulder disorder due to insufficient development of evidence. The case will be returned to the Board after further development.

The Veteran's claims for an increased rating for low back pain and TDIU were denied due to his failure to report for a scheduled VA examination without good cause.,The Veteran was informed multiple times of the consequences of failing to attend the scheduled VA examination, including that it would result in denial of his claim.

The Board found that the Veteran's current right knee, left knee, and low back disabilities are not related to his military service. The evidence did not show any specific injuries or diagnoses during service, and the VA examiner opined that the disabilities were more likely due to post-service incidents.

The Board has remanded the case for further development due to incomplete VA examination and lack of compliance with previous directives.

The Board has determined that additional examinations and development are necessary to properly adjudicate the Veteran's claims for service connection.

The Board has determined that the issues on appeal should be remanded for further development, including clarification of the characterization of the claims and obtaining a medical opinion regarding the etiology of the Veteran's right knee and low back disorders.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for increased ratings and a total rating based on unemployability due to service-connected disabilities. The appeals were not about service connection at all, but rather focused on evaluations of existing conditions.

The Veteran's claims are being remanded to obtain additional service records and verify his claimed periods of active duty, ACDUTRA, and INACDUTRA. The Board will then consider the remaining issues for service connection.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for residuals of swollen lymph nodes was denied, and his increased rating claim for degenerative disc disease of the lumbar spine was also denied.

The Board denied reopening and granting service connection for a back disability, including DDD of lumbosacral spine and a history of cervical spine injury, as new and material evidence was not submitted.

The Veteran's appeal for the propriety of reductions in disability ratings for low back strain and right lower extremity radiculopathy has been withdrawn.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for PTSD has been granted.,Service connection is also established for a low back disability, with the cause of the current condition attributed to a post-service injury.