Back / lumbar spine decisions — 2014

The Veteran's appeal has been withdrawn by the appellant, resulting in the dismissal of all issues.

The Veteran's claim of entitlement to service connection for an upper back condition has been rendered moot due to the grant of service connection for thoracic subluxation and spondylitis in a May 2012 rating decision. The issue is therefore dismissed.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claim for an earlier effective date for the award of service connection for lumbar spine spondylosis due to pending issues and additional development.

The Veteran's claims for service connection were denied multiple times, but the July 2009 rating decision granted them with an effective date of June 13, 2005. The Board determined that the effective date should be August 1, 1992, based on the receipt of official service treatment records from the service department.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including an addendum opinion to address whether his lower back disorder, right knee disorder, and/or left knee disorder are caused or aggravated by his service-connected PTSD.

The Board found that the Veteran's back disability is not related to service and denied his claim for service connection.

The case is being remanded for further development, including obtaining clarification from a private audiologist regarding the March 2010 audiogram and providing the Veteran with VA examinations to determine the etiology of his disabilities.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for degenerative disc disease of the lumbar spine is being remanded due to incomplete medical opinions. The examiner was asked to determine if this condition is related to his in-service muscle strain injuries and whether it is caused or aggravated by his service-connected left foot and knee disabilities.

The Board found that the Veteran's lumbar and cervical spine disorders are not service-connected as they are less likely related to his military service, including parachute jumps. The VA examiner opined that any current conditions are more likely due to natural aging rather than in-service incidents.

The Board granted service connection and awards of compensation for right and left lower extremity radiculopathy with effective dates of November 19, 2003.,Effective from May 11, 2011, the Veteran is entitled to a rating of 20 percent for each lower extremity.

The Board found that the Veteran's lumbar spine disability was not incurred in service and is not related to his active military service. The claim for service connection was denied.

The Veteran's degenerative disc disease of the lumbosacral spine is currently rated at 40 percent, effective February 28, 2007. His cervical strain with degenerative arthritis is rated at 20 percent.

The Board has remanded the case for further development due to an inadequate VA examination and for obtaining additional medical records. The appellant's need for aid and attendance is being evaluated.

The Board has remanded the claims due to failure to obtain relevant medical records from UTMB/Texas Department of Criminal Justice McConnell Unit in Beeville, Texas.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development due to an inadequate VA opinion. The Veteran's lay statements regarding in-service events and observable symptoms of his back disorders will be addressed by a new examiner.

The Veteran's degenerative disc disease of the lumbar spine status post laminectomy L4-5 is rated at 40% effective October 11, 2012.

The Board has determined that additional development is needed to properly adjudicate the Veteran's claims for service connection, including obtaining medical records and providing a VA examination.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining updated VA examination and private medical records. The issues of a higher rating for low back disability and TDIU are also being remanded.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for his service-connected disabilities are being remanded due to the need for additional examinations to assess the current severity of his left leg venous insufficiency and multilevel L5 degenerative joint disease, discogenic disease from L3 to S1, lumbar myositis, lumbar strain, and lumbar spondylosis.

The Board has determined that the VA examination and opinion are inadequate to render a decision on the Veteran's claims. The case is therefore being remanded for further development.