Back / lumbar spine decisions — 2017

The Board has determined that additional development is needed before the claims on appeal can be decided.

The Board has determined that a VA examination is needed to determine the nature and etiology of the Veteran's claimed low back disability, as well as whether it is related to his service-connected right leg disorder. The case will be remanded for this purpose.

The Veteran's thoracolumbar strain aggravating juvenile epiphysitis is not rated higher than 40 percent, and his PTSD remains at a 50 percent rating.

The Veteran's claims for increased evaluation and service connection have been remanded.,His claims for reopening of service connection for migraine headaches and bilateral hearing loss were granted.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining service treatment records and a VA examination to assess the current varicose vein disability and any back disability. The claims will be readjudicated after all relevant evidence has been considered.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for further development due to the submission of additional evidence without a waiver, and his claims of service connection for a back disability and TDIU are pending.

The Veteran's claims for a higher rating for his lumbar spine disability and service connection for hearing loss were denied. The claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder was remanded.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining an orthopedic specialist opinion regarding the relationship between his service-connected left knee disabilities and any diagnosed low back disability. The Veteran's claim for special monthly pension will also be addressed.

The Veteran's service-connected cervical spine, low back, right and left carpal tunnel syndrome, and right knee disabilities have rendered him unable to secure or maintain substantially gainful employment.

The Board has remanded the case to the AOJ for readjudication consistent with a Joint Motion for Partial Remand from the Court. The Veteran is scheduled for a hearing before the Board.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's right knee and back disabilities are related to his service-connected left knee disability, and thus grants service connection for these conditions on a secondary basis.

The Board denied service connection for a lumbar spine disorder and a left shoulder disorder, finding that the Veteran's conditions were not causally related to his military service.

The combined effects of the Veteran's service-connected disabilities make him unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation.

The Board found that the Veteran's current back disability was not related to his service and denied his claim.

The Board has remanded the case for further development, including obtaining additional medical records and a new opinion from VA examiners regarding the Veteran's low back disability.

The Veteran withdrew his appeal, satisfied with the recent decision that increased the rating for PTSD to 70 percent, effective April 18, 2016.

The Veteran's right shoulder disability has been granted service connection with an effective date of June 12, 2013.,The Veteran's radiculopathy of the right and left lower extremities have each been granted a separate evaluation at 10 percent.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not result in permanent and total disability that precludes locomotion without the aid of braces, crutches, canes, or a wheelchair.

From September 18, 2009 to May 20, 2014, the Veteran's low back disability was rated at 20 percent.,From May 20, 2014 to December 15, 2016, the Veteran's degenerative arthritis of the lumbar spine was rated at 40 percent.

The Board found that the Veteran's lumbar sprain/strain and lumbar degenerative disc disease were not incurred in service, as there was no evidence of a chronic condition during or within one year after service. The Board concluded that the current disabilities are not related to his military service.