Back / lumbar spine decisions — 2016

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for his lumbar strain and left lower extremity radiculopathy have been denied. The Board finds that the evidence does not support a higher rating for either condition.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's low back and associated radiculopathy disabilities are not related to service, including his military activities.,Similarly, the right shoulder disability is also not found to be related to service.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings and service connection were denied. The Veteran was not granted any new or additional benefits.

The Board finds that the Veteran's current low back disability and peripheral neuropathy of the bilateral upper extremities and lower extremities are not related to active service or any incident of service.

The Veteran's service-connected lumbar spine disability has been manifested by pain with limited motion. The thoracolumbar spine was not productive of any ankylosis or incapacitating episodes of intervertebral disc syndrome having a total duration of at least six weeks during the past 12 months, thus preventing a higher rating.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's degenerative arthritis of the lumbar spine is at least as likely as not caused or aggravated by his service-connected right and left knee disabilities.

The Board has remanded the case due to a lack of notification for an examination and scheduling issues. The Veteran's claim for service connection for a back disability, as secondary to right and left knee disabilities, will be further developed.

The Board has remanded the claims for additional development due to insufficient efforts to obtain records from the Appellant's Reserve service and incomplete addendum opinions.

The Board has determined that the Veteran does not have a current seizure disorder, bilateral knee disability, or low back disability that is related to service. The claims are therefore denied.

The Veteran's case is being remanded for further action, including scheduling a Travel Board hearing and providing the Veteran with a statement of the case regarding his TDIU claim.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including obtaining a new VA medical opinion and all of the Veteran's VA treatment records since March 2010. The Veteran is seeking service connection for his low back condition.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including obtaining treatment records and scheduling a VA examination to assess the Veteran's chronic low back pain from multilevel degenerative disc disease and spinal stenosis.

The Veteran's degenerative disc disease of the lumbar spine is currently rated at 20 percent, effective April 5, 2011.

The Board found that the appellant was not permanently incapable of self-support prior to reaching the age of 18, and thus denied his claim for recognition as a helpless child.

The Veteran's claim for an increased rating for his back disability is being remanded to the AOJ due to a lack of adequate examination and because other service connection issues are still pending.

The Board has remanded the case for further development, including a new examination and consideration of extraschedular considerations.

The Board has remanded the case for further development, including obtaining additional medical records and a new VA examination to reassess the Veteran's service-connected low back disability. The effective date claims are also being remanded.

The Veteran's claim for an increased rating for his service-connected degenerative joint disease of the lumbar spine with radiculopathy and spondylolisthesis is granted, but he does not meet the criteria for a separate 20 percent evaluation for left knee disability. The effective date remains pending.

The Board found that the Veteran's current low back disability is not related to his active service, as there was no evidence of a chronic condition during or after service. The examiner opined that the Veteran's current symptoms are more likely due to age-related degenerative changes rather than an in-service injury.

The Board has determined that the Veteran does not have a low back, neck, or fibromyalgia condition that is related to service and therefore denied her claims for service connection.