Back / lumbar spine decisions — 2016

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claim for service connection for a low back condition due to incomplete development and need for additional medical opinions.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining updated VA treatment records and scheduling an orthopedic examination. The claims of entitlement to a higher rating for his lumbar spine disability and TDIU will be considered.

The VA Board found that the Veteran's scoliosis and lordosis of the lumbar spine is a congenital defect, not service-connected. The examiner determined that the Veteran does not suffer from an additional disability due to aggravation of this defect during his active military service.

The Veteran's low back pain syndrome is not found to meet the criteria for a compensable rating, and his service-connected disabilities do not render him unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation.

The Board has determined that the appellant's lumbar disc disease is not related to his active duty service, including ACDUTRA. As a result, the claim for service connection was denied.

The Veteran's claim for a higher rating for his service-connected chronic low back strain is being remanded due to incomplete VA examination reports and the need for additional medical records.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities did not meet the schedular criteria for TDIU, and referral for extraschedular consideration was not warranted as her employment during this period was due to personal reasons rather than her service-connected conditions.

The Veteran's IBS is currently rated at 10 percent after June 2, 2008 and at 30 percent from October 9, 2014. The Board finds that the current ratings adequately reflect his disability picture.

The Board has granted an initial disability evaluation of 10 percent for left lower extremity radiculopathy, effective June 18, 2007.

The Veteran's claim of entitlement to a disability rating in excess of 10 percent for lumbar spine degenerative disc disease was granted, with an effective date of November 19, 2007.

The Veteran's appeal of the issue regarding an increased rating for low back pain syndrome with degenerative joint disease has been withdrawn, and thus the case is dismissed.

The Board granted service connection for tinnitus and determined that the Veteran's lumbar spine disability warrants a 40 percent initial rating, effective from the date of the claim.

The Veteran's increased disability ratings for lumbar spine paraspinous muscle strain and recurrent left shoulder dislocation were denied as the evidence did not meet the criteria for a higher rating during the one-year period prior to the claim.

The Board has remanded the case due to the need for additional medical opinions and records, particularly regarding the nature and etiology of the Veteran's low back disorder.

The Veteran's right lower extremity radiculopathy is found to be secondary to his service-connected lumbar spine degenerative disc disease and granted.

The Veteran's claims are being remanded due to the need for additional development, including obtaining inpatient medical records from Chanute Air Force Base and other relevant medical records.

The Board has determined that additional development is necessary before the claims can be decided, including obtaining audiogram results and conducting VA examinations for hearing loss, left shoulder disability, and lower back disability.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for a back disability, obstructive sleep apnea, bilateral breast tumors, and thyroid tumor. The claim for service connection for a back disability was reopened due to new evidence, but the other claims were denied.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral plantar fasciitis and degenerative disc disease of the cervical spine are being remanded due to the need for additional medical opinions regarding the etiology of these conditions.

The Veteran's low back disability is rated at 60 percent, effective April 28, 2014. The left knee disability remains rated at 20 percent.