Back / lumbar spine decisions — 2016

The appeal is being remanded for additional development, including a VA examination to determine the nature and etiology of the Veteran's claimed disabilities.

The Board denied service connection for a back disorder and residuals of a bilateral leg injury, finding that the Veteran's current conditions did not have their onset in service.

The Board has granted service connection for cervical spine spondylosis with radiculopathy and thoracolumbar spine strain and spondylosis, finding that these conditions are secondary to the Veteran's multiple service-connected right upper extremity disabilities.

The Board has remanded the case for further development, including obtaining private chiropractor records and scheduling a VA spine examination to determine the nature and etiology of the Veteran's claimed lumbar spine disability.

The Board has decided to remand the case for additional development, including obtaining an adequate medical opinion regarding the etiology of any current low back disorder.

The Veteran's claims for service connection are being remanded due to the need for additional examinations and development of his thoracic and lumbar spine disabilities, as well as bilateral foot and leg numbness.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for varicose veins of the right lower extremity, a neck disability, and degenerative joint disease of the right shoulder. The appeals were based on direct service connection.

The Veteran is seeking service connection for a low back disability, which he attributes to his service-connected left knee and bilateral pes planus disabilities. The case must be remanded to obtain an addendum medical opinion addressing whether the Veteran's current low back disability was permanently worsened by his service-connected conditions.

The Board has remanded the case for further development due to inadequate medical opinions regarding the relationship between the Veteran's back disability and his service-connected bilateral pes planus.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's GERD and low back disability were not incurred or aggravated during service, and thus denied both claims.

The Board has remanded the case due to issues raised by the Court, including the need for further development regarding service connection for a low back disorder secondary to irritable bowel syndrome with collagenous colitis. The Veteran is to be scheduled for a VA examination and additional records are to be obtained.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for a lumbar spine disorder and GERD, finding that there was insufficient evidence to support these claims.

The Board finds that the Veteran's current diagnoses of degenerative disc disease and spondylolisthesis at L4-5 are related to his active duty service, resolving reasonable doubt in favor of a connection.

The Board has remanded the case due to inadequate development of the record, particularly regarding the etiology of the Veteran's current knee and back disabilities. The claims for service connection are being returned for further development.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development due to inadequacies in the examination and opinion provided by the VA examiner. The Veteran's lay statements regarding back pain are also being considered.

The Veteran's appeal has been dismissed as the appellant withdrew his appeal prior to a decision being made.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for a new VA examination to address the functional loss due to pain and weakness in his back, as well as any flare-ups of his condition. The issue will be re-adjudicated after the examination.

The Board has granted presumptive service connection for DJD of the lumbosacral spine, finding that the Veteran experienced continuous symptoms since service separation and meeting the criteria for a chronic disease under 38 C.F.R. § 3.309(a).

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities have rendered him unable to maintain substantially gainful employment throughout the period under appeal, warranting a TDIU rating.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for thoracolumbar strain and right ankle strain are being remanded due to the need for additional examinations.