Back / lumbar spine decisions — 2013

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining new VA examinations and updating medical records.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's left knee disability was incurred in service and granted service connection for this condition. The issues of entitlement to service connection for right knee and low back disabilities are being remanded due to insufficient evidence.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded to the RO for further action, including scheduling a hearing before the Board at his current address.

The Board has ordered a remand due to the need for additional medical examination and development of the claim. The Veteran's low back disorder is being evaluated in light of his service history, including any treatment received prior to active duty.

The Veteran's claims are being remanded due to incomplete service records. The missing records will be sought and associated with the claim file or, if not found, the Veteran will be advised of alternative sources.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for Meniere's disease, spondylosis of the lumbar spine, and hypertension are being remanded due to scheduling a videoconference Board hearing at the RO.

The Veteran's low back disability is currently rated as 10 percent disabling under the General Rating Formula for Diseases and Injuries of the Spine. The rating reflects limitation of motion, but not severe enough to result in abnormal gait or spinal contour.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's service-connected knee disabilities caused an altered gait, which resulted in his back disability incurred during service.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's bilateral hand and shoulder arthritis, a bilateral elbow disorder, and a lumbar spine disorder are related to service.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings and TDIU were denied as her service-connected conditions did not warrant higher disability ratings.

The Veteran's claims for higher ratings were denied, but the Board acknowledged that he had raised an informal claim for a Total Disability Rating Based on Individual Unemployability (TDIU) and remanded the case to consider this issue.

The Board found that a lumbar spine disorder was not incurred in or aggravated by active military service and denied the claim.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's lumbar and cervical spine disabilities are related to his military service, granting service connection for these conditions.

The Board has decided to remand the case for further development and an opinion regarding the etiology of the Veteran's low back disability.

The Veteran's claim for an increased rating in excess of 20 percent for a low back disability, effective from February 11, 2012, was granted. The Veteran is now rated at 40 percent disabling for his low back disability.

The Board found that the Veteran's current arthritis of the cervical and thoracolumbar spine is not related to his service, including any in-service injuries. The VA examiners concluded it was less likely as not related to service.

The Board has remanded the case for another VA spine examination to be conducted by a neurosurgeon or an orthopedic spine surgeon. The examiner is requested to assess whether the Veteran's back disability, including degenerative changes of the lumbar spine with spina bifida occulta, is related to service.

The Veteran's claim for an increased rating for her low back disability is being remanded due to the need for a new VA examination to address her current orthopedic and neurologic manifestations, including urinary incontinence.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims due to incomplete records and the need for a new VA examination.