Back / lumbar spine decisions — 2016

The Board found no nexus between the Appellant's hypertension and low back disorder with his periods of ACDUTRA, thus denying service connection for these conditions.

The Board has remanded the case due to failure of substantial compliance with its August 2014 remand instructions. The Veteran is seeking service connection for low back spasms, which he claims are related to his service-connected right knee disability and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD).

The Board has remanded the case for additional development due to a missed VA examination. The Veteran is required to provide updated contact information and must keep VA informed of his current address.

The Veteran's degenerative joint disease of the lumbar spine was not characterized by incapacitating episodes or other symptoms warranting a higher rating, and service connection for sleep apnea could not be established.

The Veteran has withdrawn his appeals for migraine headaches, lumbar spine disability, and bilateral pes planus with plantar fasciitis. The appeal is dismissed.

The Board has remanded the claims due to incomplete compliance with previous remand directives and the need for further examination.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings and TDIU prior to August 15, 2014 were denied. The right shoulder disability was rated based on limitation of motion.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for bilateral hearing loss and a back disability are being remanded due to confusion regarding his representation, the passage of time since prior VA examinations, and the need to obtain additional medical records.

The Board found no evidence to support service connection for the Veteran's low back and left knee disabilities, concluding that they are not related to his military service or any service-connected conditions.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for degenerative disc disease L5-S1 with spondylolysis has been granted. The Veteran's right shoulder disability is rated at the maximum allowable under DC 5201, resulting in a final rating of 40%.

The Board has found that new and material evidence has been received to reopen the claim of service connection for a lumbar spine disorder. The Veteran's degenerative arthritis of the lumbar spine is related to service, and thus service connection is granted.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for a left shoulder disorder and a low back disorder due to additional development of evidence, including obtaining medical opinions regarding the etiology of these conditions.

The Board has remanded the case to obtain an updated medical opinion regarding the Veteran's low back disability and its relationship to service. The appeal is pending further development.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for cervical and thoracolumbar spine disorders, finding that there was no evidence of a causal relationship between his current conditions and his military service.

The Veteran's lumbar spine disability is currently rated as 10 percent disabling, and the Board finds that a higher rating is not warranted.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for further development due to the need for additional medical records and examinations.

The Veteran withdrew his appeals for higher ratings for lumbar spine disability and radiculopathy of the right leg at a Travel Board hearing, resulting in the dismissal of these claims.

The Board has remanded the case for further development to determine if the Veteran's alcohol abuse is caused or aggravated by her service-connected disabilities.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for additional development due to incomplete attempts at obtaining private medical records and inadequate VA examination.

The Board has granted a 30 percent rating for degenerative disc disease of the cervical spine effective August 19, 2014. The Veteran's left upper extremity radiculopathy is separately rated and no additional compensation is warranted.