Back / lumbar spine decisions — 2014

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for additional development and consideration, including obtaining updated treatment records from his VA medical center and scheduling him for a VA examination to address the nature and etiology of his claimed conditions.

The Veteran's service-connected lumbar strain and cervical spine disability have been granted initial evaluations of 10 percent, 20 percent, and 40 percent respectively since June 26, 2007. The effective date for these ratings is not specified.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining updated treatment records and scheduling the Veteran for VA examinations to assess the severity of his right ankle fracture and lumbosacral strain.

The Board has remanded the case for further development due to inadequate examination reports and other issues.

The Board has remanded the issues of service connection for back disability, right knee disability, and thyroid disability. The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for hemorrhoids and left clavicle fracture remain on appeal.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's low back disability was not incurred in or aggravated by service and is unrelated to service. The claim for a psychiatric disability, claimed as PTSD, remains pending.

The Veteran's glaucoma is not related to his active military service and is not proximately due to or aggravated by a service-connected condition.,The Veteran has arthritis and degenerative disc disease of the lumbar spine that had its onset during active military service, but there is no evidence of aggravation from a service-connected condition.,The Veteran's tension and vascular headaches are related to his active military service.

The Veteran's claim for an increased rating for lumbosacral strain with foraminal stenosis was denied, and his TDIU claim was also denied. The current effective date is not specified.

The Board has granted service connection for lumbar spine degenerative disc disease. The claim of service connection for PTSD and an acquired psychiatric disorder other than PTSD is remanded.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining service medical records and scheduling examinations to determine the nature and etiology of his claimed conditions.

The Veteran's service-connected right and left knee chondromalacia disabilities have been granted a 50% evaluation effective October 30, 2012. The Veteran's chronic lumbar pain with myofascial muscle strain has also been granted an increased rating to 20%. These ratings are in line with the criteria set forth in VA regulations.

The Veteran's PTSD was granted a 70% rating effective April 12, 2013. His low back disability was also increased to 70% from that date.

The Board granted an effective date of October 7, 2005 for the assignment of a 40 percent evaluation for degenerative disc disease of the lumbosacral spine. The claim for earlier service connection for radiculopathy of the right lower extremity was denied.

The Board found that the reduction of the rating for service-connected degenerative disc disease with herniated nucleus pulposus, lumbar spine, L5-S1 from 40 percent to 20 percent, effective September 1, 2008, was proper.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings and service connection were denied. The case is REMANDED to obtain additional VA treatment records, issue a SOC regarding the denial of service connection for erectile dysfunction, schedule the Veteran for VA examinations, and readjudicate the claims.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded to obtain additional treatment records and provide a VA examination. The issues of an increased rating for his spine disability and TDIU are also being addressed.

The Veteran's lumbar disc herniation with IVDS, hemorrhoids, and right upper extremity neurological damage have been rated based on their respective service-connected conditions. The TDIU claim prior to February 3, 2011 has also been granted.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded to the RO for additional development, including scheduling a Board hearing at the RO.

The Board has remanded the case for a new VA opinion to address whether the Veteran's suicide was caused by his use of Methadone prescribed by VA, and if so, whether it was due to negligence or lack of proper skill on the part of VA.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for further evaluation of his service-connected lumbar and thoracic spine disabilities due to missing work because of back issues.