Back / lumbar spine decisions — 2016

The Board has determined that additional evidence is needed to fully and fairly consider the claim for service connection for low back disorder, including records from before and after the Veteran's left testicle removal surgery in October 2002. The case will be remanded for further development.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development and medical inquiry, including obtaining SSA records, prison records, and VA examinations.

The Veteran's DDD of the cervical spine with reversed lordosis and IVDS is rated at 30 percent, effective November 20, 2014. His radiculopathy of the right upper extremity is rated at 40 percent, also effective November 20, 2014.

The Veteran's lumbar spine disability has been rated at 40 percent effective December 9, 2015. The rating is based on the presence of forward flexion to 10 degrees.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's lumbosacral spine disability and osteoarthritis of the left knee are not related to her military service, and thus denied these claims.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining medical records and scheduling a VA examination to assess the severity of his lumbar spine disability. The TDIU claim will also be considered.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining treatment records and providing updated medical opinions regarding his sleep apnea and thoracolumbar spine disability.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining updated employment information and VA treatment records. A VA examination will be conducted to determine if the Veteran's service-connected disabilities prevent him from securing or maintaining substantially gainful employment.

The Veteran's lumbar DDD with bulging disc disability is currently rated at 20 percent, and the evidence does not support a higher rating.

The Board has determined that the claim for service connection for a back disorder should be denied as there is no evidence of an in-service injury or chronic condition, and the current symptoms are not related to active duty.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to the need for additional development, including a new VA examination and obtaining updated treatment records.

The Board found no evidence of a right knee disability, back disability, or joint disability (other than as due to an undiagnosed illness) during service. The Veteran's tinnitus began after service and is not linked to military noise exposure.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for additional development due to incomplete medical records and inadequate consideration of his lay statements regarding lower extremity pain.

The Veteran's low back disability is rated at 60 percent effective October 1, 2013.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including several orthopedic conditions and bipolar disorder, do not render him unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's current cervical spine disability, including degenerative disc disease of the cervical spine and spinal fusion, is related to his in-service injury. The claim for service connection is granted.

The Board has granted a total rating based on individual unemployability due to service-connected disability, effective from May 10, 2011. The appellant's psychotic disorder is rated at 70 percent since February 9, 2006.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining a VA examination and reviewing the claims file to determine if his lumbar spine, bilateral knee, right hip, right ankle, and right foot disorders are related to service or service-connected left ankle and foot disabilities.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings were denied for his lumbar spine and right knee disabilities, but granted a compensable rating (30%) for arthritis of the right knee after January 1, 2015.

The Board found that the recoupment of the Veteran's severance pay from his VA disability compensation payments was proper and denied the appeal.