Back / lumbar spine decisions — 2015

The Veteran withdrew his appeal regarding the claim of service connection for a lumbar spine disorder. The remaining claims of service connection for fibromyalgia and irritable bowel syndrome are remanded for further development.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's cervical and lumbar spine disabilities are secondary to his service-connected thoracic strain with degenerative disc disease, and thus grants these claims.

The Veteran's low back strain has been rated at 40 percent since January 2014, effective October 12, 2012. The Board found that the current rating adequately reflects his disability level and symptomatology.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining VA treatment records and scheduling a new examination to address the nature and etiology of his claimed back, neck, and shoulder disabilities.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional examinations to determine the impact of his service-connected disabilities on his ability to work, and for consideration of extraschedular TDIU criteria.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining his vocational rehabilitation records and scheduling a VA social and industrial survey. The case will be reviewed by the AOJ after these actions are completed.

The Veteran's low back disability is rated at 20 percent, effective from the date of the decision. The claim for service connection for skin cancer was granted.

The Board denied service connection for a urinary disorder and service connection for a low back disability on direct basis. The Veteran's current low back disability is not related to injury or event in active service.

The Board found no evidence of a chronic lumbar spine disability in service or within one year following separation, and the only medical opinion evidence to address the etiology of any diagnosed lumbar spine disabilities weighs against the claim. The Veteran's psychiatric and respiratory disabilities were not shown during active service or for many years thereafter.

The Board has granted service connection for the Veteran's cervical and lumbar spine disabilities, finding that these conditions are at least as likely as not related to his active service.

The Board finds that the Veteran does not have a low back disability with associated nerve impairment that is related to military service or an event of service origin.

The Veteran's cervical spine disability was granted a 20 percent rating effective September 13, 2011. A separate 20 percent rating for left upper extremity neurological impairment was also granted.

The Veteran's appeal has been dismissed due to his death. The Board cannot proceed with the merits of the case as he is no longer alive.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's current lumbar and cervical spine disabilities are not related to his active service, and thus denied his claims for service connection.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for a back disability, to include degenerative disc disease of the lumbar spine, is being remanded due to inadequate VA medical opinions and need for additional development.

The Board has remanded the case due to new evidence submitted by the Veteran and a need for additional examination.

The Board has granted a 20 percent rating for the Veteran's service-connected lumbar spine disability since December 9, 2014. The previous rating of 10 percent was maintained prior to that date.

The Board found that the Veteran's current low back disorder is not related to his active military service or a service-connected disability, and thus denied his claim for service connection.

The Veteran meets the schedular requirements for assignment of a TDIU and has been reasonably shown not to be able to engage in substantial gainful employment due to his combination of service-connected disabilities, considered in conjunction with his education level and prior work experience.

The Veteran's appeal for service connection and a higher initial rating for PTSD is being remanded due to the need for additional medical opinions regarding his lower back condition, and the failure to provide a Supplemental Statement of the Case (SSOC) for the period prior to December 30, 2011.