Back / lumbar spine decisions — 2014

The Veteran's lumbar spine disability is rated at 20 percent prior to August 10, 2012. The sensory deficit of the right lower extremity is also rated at 20 percent beginning August 10, 2012.

The Board has dismissed the appeal due to the Appellant's request for withdrawal prior to a decision being made.

The Board has granted service connection for the Veteran's right and left knee disabilities, finding that they are likely to have had their onset during active military service. The back disorder and bilateral foot disorder issues were withdrawn by the Veteran.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's current degenerative joint disease of the lumbar spine is not related to service and therefore denied his claim for service connection.

The Veteran's gout, depressive disorder with alcohol abuse in early remission, cognitive disorder NOS, and opioid dependence, DDD and spondylosis of the cervical spine, DDD, spondylosis, and spondylolisthesis of the lumbar spine, with DJD of the thoracic spine, and right knee DJD have been rated based on their respective service-connected conditions. The Veteran's claims for increased ratings are granted.

The Veteran's claims for service connection are being remanded due to the need for additional development, including obtaining medical records and conducting examinations. The TDIU claim is also deferred until these issues are resolved.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining service treatment records and a medical opinion regarding the etiology of his current back disorder.

The Veteran requested to withdraw his appeal for service connection of lumbar strain, and the Board has dismissed this issue.

The Board has found that the Veteran's current neuropathy of the left upper extremity, left shoulder condition, and cervical spine degenerative disc disease are not related to his military service. The claims for these conditions have been denied.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development to ensure that all relevant evidence is considered, including obtaining SSA records and VA/VA examinations.

The Board has determined that a VA examination is needed to determine the etiology of the Veteran's lumbar spine disability and whether it is related to active duty service.

The Veteran's claims for higher ratings for low back disability and associated bilateral lower extremity radiculopathy are being remanded due to the need for additional evidentiary development.

The Board found no evidence of an in-service injury or event related to the low back disability and concluded that the current condition is not service-connected.

The Board has remanded the case for further development due to incomplete service treatment records.

The Board has remanded the case to address whether the Veteran's back disability is service connected due to his bilateral knee disabilities, which were previously granted. The VA examiner will provide an opinion on this secondary theory of service connection.

The Board of Veterans' Appeals has determined that the Veteran's back disability, sciatica, and restless leg syndrome did not have onset in service or due to active military service.

The Board has remanded the case due to an error in a VA medical examiner's opinion, and the Veteran's claim for service connection for low back disability is now pending again with the AOJ.

The Veteran is unable to obtain or maintain substantially gainful employment due to service-connected disabilities, and the Board finds that reasonable doubt should be resolved in his favor.

The Veteran's service connection appeal for a cervical spine disability with radicular pain and numbness has been granted, as the Board finds that the current condition is related to injuries sustained during service.

The claim for service connection for a low back disorder is being remanded due to the need for additional development, including obtaining VA treatment records and providing an updated medical opinion.