Back / lumbar spine decisions — 2017

The Board found that the Veteran's death was not caused by any service-connected disability, and thus denied the claim for service connection for the cause of the Veteran's death.

The Board has requested an additional medical opinion and is now remanding the case for consideration of new evidence submitted by the Veteran.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's low back disorder and cervical spine disorders are related to his active service, resolving doubt in favor of the Veteran.

The Veteran withdrew his appeals on the issues of service connection for a back disability, left thumb disability, an initial rating greater than 10 percent for right knee arthritis, status post chondroplasty, and compensable initial ratings for right knee scar and limitation of extension.

The Veteran's lumbar strain disability is rated at 40 percent, effective January 4, 2017. The left lower extremity radiculopathy secondary to the service-connected lumbar strain disability has also been rated at 40 percent.

The Veteran's low back disability was rated at 10 percent prior to November 18, 2011, and at 20 percent as of that date. A separate 10 percent rating for right lower extremity radiculopathy is granted.

The Board has remanded the case due to incomplete development regarding the appellant's claimed stressor, treatment records, and medical opinions for his low back, left knee, heart, and kidney disorders.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's service-connected low back disability and CTS of the right arm are both granted.

The Board has granted service connection for a degenerative disc disease of the cervical spine as secondary to service-connected chronic lumbar strain.

The Board denied service connection for a low back disability and an increased rating for asthma, finding that the Veteran's current conditions are not related to his military service or service-connected disabilities.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's low back disability had its onset during service and has persisted since then, granting his claim for service connection.

The Board has remanded the issues for further development due to incomplete actions in prior remands. The Veteran's claims will be readjudicated after additional development.

The Board has reopened the Veteran's claim for service connection of a cervical spine disorder but denied an increased rating for his lumbar spine disability.

The Board has remanded the claims due to inadequate efforts in obtaining the Veteran's military medical records.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's current lumbar spine disability, including lumbosacral strain, degenerative disc disease, and sciatic neuritis/right lower extremity radiculopathy, is etiologically related to his military service. As such, the claim for service connection is granted.

The Board found that the Veteran's left wrist, left elbow, low back, and bilateral knee conditions are not causally or etiologically related to any disease, injury, or incident during service.,Service connection was denied for all claimed conditions.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including obtaining medical records and scheduling a VA examination to determine if the Veteran's current back disability is related to his parachute training during service.

The Veteran's appeal for a TDIU is being remanded due to the need to schedule a Travel Board hearing. The original claim was denied in December 2009 and has been appealed through multiple stages.

The Veteran's claim for a higher rating for his chronic lumbar strain and degenerative disc disease was granted, with the effective date being May 23, 2016. The initial rating assigned is 20 percent.

The Board found that the Veteran's current low back disability is not related to his in-service injury, and therefore denied his claim for service connection.