Back / lumbar spine decisions — 2013

The Board has remanded the case due to the need for additional development and examination, including obtaining medical records from various VA facilities and Social Security Administration (SSA) records. The Veteran's claims of service connection for low back disability, hypertension, irritable bowel syndrome, and urinary condition/prostatitis will be reconsidered based on the new evidence.

The Board has granted the Veteran's request to reopen his claims for service connection for pes planus and a lumbosacral spine disability, finding that new and material evidence has been received. The case is now remanded for further development.

The Board has determined that further development is needed to determine the nature and etiology of the Veteran's low back disorder, as well as his eligibility for a TDIU rating. The case is being remanded to allow for additional evidence to be obtained and an examination to be conducted.

The Board has reopened the Veteran's claims of service connection for lumbar spine, bilateral knee, right shoulder, and right hip disabilities. The evidence now shows that these conditions are related to his military service.

The Veteran's claim for a higher initial rating for left leg radiculopathy associated with lumbar disc disease was granted, and he is now receiving a 10 percent rating effective from March 8, 2011.

The Veteran's lumbar spine strain with degenerative disc disease at L3-4 and L5-S1 is currently rated as 10 percent disabling, but does not meet the criteria for a higher rating based on current symptomatology.

The Board has granted service connection for the Veteran's thoracolumbar spine disability as secondary to his service-connected right knee disability.

The Veteran's claims for service connection are being remanded due to the need for additional development and clarification of his claims.

The Veteran's appeal has been withdrawn, and the case is dismissed.

The Veteran's appeal was denied as his service connection claims for low back disorder, sleep apnea, hypertension, and respiratory disorder were not granted. His hearing loss disability was also found to be noncompensable.

The Board determined that the Veteran's back and eye disabilities were not incurred in or aggravated by active service, and thus denied these claims. The Veteran's urethritis was found to be asymptomatic for the relevant period.

The Board has granted the Veteran's claims of service connection for a right hip disorder, low back disorder, and left ear hearing loss. The conditions are found to be as likely as not related to his military service.

The Board has remanded the case to the RO for scheduling a Travel Board hearing due to the Veteran's request for postponement of his hearing.

The Veteran's DDD of C5-C6 is rated at 20 percent, effective December 28, 2008. Service connection for tinnitus has been granted.

The Veteran's claim for service connection of a low back disability has been reopened and granted. The right knee disability issue remains pending as it requires further development.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded due to the need for additional examinations and development of his claims, including a total disability rating due to individual unemployability (TDIU).

The Veteran's bilateral ankle and low back disabilities are found to be related to his active duty service.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining VA and private treatment records, as well as a new VA examination to assess the severity of his lumbar spine disability and associated right lower extremity radiculopathy.

The Board has granted service connection for a first degree AV block, finding that it is as likely as not related to the Veteran's active service. The claim for service connection for a back disability remains pending.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's current degenerative joint disease of the thoracolumbar spine is not related to his service, and thus denied his claim for service connection. For his right knee and right wrist conditions, further examination is needed to determine if they are related to service.