Back / lumbar spine decisions — 2015

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining medical records and scheduling an examination. The issues of entitlement to increased ratings for cervical spondylosis with degenerative disc disease and surgical scars from cervical diskectomy as well as service connection for TBI are also being addressed.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's current degenerative disc disease of the lumbar spine is at least as likely as not aggravated by his service-connected right shoulder disorder, warranting service connection on a secondary basis.

The Board has granted the Veteran's request to reopen his claim for service connection of a low back disorder. A new VA examination is required to determine the nature and likely etiology of his low back disability.

The Veteran seeks service connection for a low back disability. The Board finds insufficient evidence to decide the claim and has ordered further development, including obtaining medical records and scheduling a VA examination.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, prior to January 13, 2012, have rendered him unable to secure and follow substantially gainful employment due to his chronic low back strain with spondylosis and sciatica of the lower extremities.

The Veteran's claim for service connection is being remanded due to the need for additional development, including a VA examination and review of relevant medical records.

The Board found that the Veteran's current back disability was not incurred in or aggravated by service and denied his claim. The prostate cancer claim is addressed in the REMAND portion of this decision.

The Board has granted a 20 percent rating for the Veteran's degenerative disc disease of the thoracic spine, finding that it more nearly approximates forward flexion to 40 degrees with pain.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings and service connection were denied. The issue of service connection for a cervical spine disorder was withdrawn by the Veteran.

The Board found no evidence of a low back disability in service or within one year post-service, and the November 2012 VA opinion concluded that the Veteran's current low back disability is not related to his military service.

The Board found that the Veteran's service-connected thoracolumbar spine disability, which includes mechanical lumbar spine strain, lumbar spine multi-level degenerative facet disease, and thoracic spine strain with T7-8 disc protrusion, does not warrant a rating in excess of 10 percent.

The Veteran is seeking service connection for a lumbar spine disorder, which she claims is related to her service-connected left hip strain and right hip trochanteric bursitis. The appeal has been remanded due to the need for additional development including obtaining medical records.

The Veteran's claim for an increased evaluation in excess of 10 percent for his back disability, claimed as lumbar strain, was denied by the RO. The Board found that there is no evidence showing limitation of motion or other symptomatology meeting a criterion for an evaluation in excess of 10 percent.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining updated treatment records and arranging for a VA examination to assess the current severity of his service-connected lumbar spine and bilateral lower extremity radiculopathy disabilities. The AOJ must also consider whether an extraschedular rating is warranted based on the impact of these disabilities on employment.

The Board has remanded the case for further development, including obtaining private treatment records and scheduling a VA examination to determine if the Veteran's back disorder is related to his military service or any of his service-connected disabilities.

The Veteran's low back disability and radiculopathy of the bilateral lower extremities have been evaluated based on their current manifestations. The claim for increased ratings is denied as the evidence does not show that the disabilities warrant a higher rating at any point.

The Veteran's low back disability and depression have not met the criteria for higher ratings under the applicable rating schedule.

The Board has found that the Veteran's back pain, which began during his service in the Southwest Asia theater of operations, is a manifestation of an undiagnosed illness and thus meets the criteria for service connection.

The Board finds that the Veteran's current low back disability is not related to service, and thus denies his claim for service connection.

The Veteran's cervical spine and lumbar spine disabilities have been rated based on their current manifestations, with the highest rating granted for the cervical spine disability from January 10, 2012. The lumbar spine disability has also received a higher rating.