Back / lumbar spine decisions — 2015

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining relevant medical records and scheduling a VA examination to assess the current severity of his service-connected lumbar spine disability.

The Veteran's appeals for service connection on the issues of lumbar spine disability, cervical spine disability, left leg fracture, left tailbone fracture, and right arm fracture have been withdrawn by his representative.

The Board denied an increased rating for lumbosacral strain with intervertebral disc syndrome (IVDS) (lumbar spine disability), granted a higher rating of 40 percent for the lumbar spine disability, and did not address the other issues.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including obtaining SSA and New York State disability benefits records, scheduling a VA examination to assess the severity of service-connected disabilities, and readjudicating the claim.

The Veteran's 60% rating for lumbar myositis with L5-S1 bulging disc is restored from October 10, 1999.

The Veteran's low back disability is found to be secondary to his service-connected bilateral knee disabilities, and thus service connection for the condition is granted.

The Board has decided to remand the case for additional development, including obtaining medical records and arranging for a VA examination.

The Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorder(s) is granted as service connected. The Board finds that the Veteran has variously diagnosed psychiatric disorders that are as likely as not related to his active military service, including PTSD and mood disorder. For the lumbar spine disability with left lower extremity radiculopathy, the Board finds that it was incurred in service. Service connection for hepatitis C is granted.

The Board found that the current lumbar spine osteoarthritis is not related to service, and denied the Veteran's claim for service connection. The sleep apnea issue was remanded for further development.

The Veteran's claims for service connection have been denied, and the Board has granted a remand to schedule a videoconference hearing at the RO.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded due to the need for additional records and a supplemental medical opinion. The case will be readjudicated after these actions.

The Board has ordered additional development due to the need for updated VA treatment records and other relevant medical evidence.

The Board has granted service connection for degenerative disc disease of the thoracolumbar spine, right hip, left hip, and cervical spine disorders. The Veteran's conditions are found to be causally related to his active duty service.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for a low back disability and a rash on the hands have been granted.,A higher disability evaluation for PTSD is also pending.

The Board has remanded the case due to issues related to the Veteran's intervertebral disc syndrome and lumbar radiculopathy, including a request for a videoconference hearing that was not conducted.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's current right knee, hallux valgus, and lower back disorders are not related to service. The preponderance of evidence indicates these conditions were not manifest in service or within one year of separation.

The Board found that the evidence did not establish a link between the Veteran's current low back disability and his military service, thus denying his claim for service connection.

The Board has determined that new and material evidence has been received to reopen the claim of service connection for a low back disorder. The Veteran's current low back disorder is found to be related to his active duty service, warranting service connection.

The Veteran's lumbar spine disability was rated at 40 percent effective January 26, 2012. Prior to this date, the disability had been rated at 10 percent.

The evidence is in equipoise, meaning about evenly balanced, for and against the claim that the Veteran's back disorder was incurred during his military service. The Board has granted the claim based on this finding of equipoise.