Back / lumbar spine decisions — 2017

The Veteran's claim for higher ratings and service connection were denied. The low back disability is currently rated at 40 percent, effective May 11, 2015.

The Veteran requested to withdraw his appeal regarding the issue of entitlement to a rating in excess of 40 percent for lumbosacral strain with degenerative spondylosis and spurring. As a result, the Board dismissed this appeal.

The Veteran's service-connected back disability is currently rated at 20 percent, but the Board finds that a higher rating is not warranted based on the evidence of record. The Veteran has limitation of motion and pain in his thoracolumbar spine, which does not meet or approximate the criteria for a higher evaluation.

The Veteran's claim for a TDIU has been granted since May 1, 2009. His service-connected disabilities have precluded him from substantially gainful employment during the appeal period.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development due to missing service records and for medical opinions regarding the etiology of the Veteran's claimed disabilities.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claim of service connection for a low back disorder due to inadequate medical opinion regarding whether there is clear and unmistakable evidence that the condition existed prior to service and if it was aggravated during service.

The Veteran's low back disorder is currently rated at 40 percent since January 12, 2009. The rating for his right knee arthritis and instability with surgical scar are both rated at 10 percent.

The Board found that the Veteran's current back and bilateral hip disabilities are not related to active service or any incident of service.

The Veteran's low back disability is not shown to meet the criteria for a rating in excess of 20 percent.

The Board has remanded the case for further development and readjudication due to a lack of compliance with previous remand directives.

The Veteran's lumbar spine disability, characterized by severe intervertebral disc syndrome with recurrent attacks and intermittent relief, was granted a higher initial rating of 40 percent effective from October 10, 2008. The decision also granted separate 10 percent ratings for bilateral lower extremity radiculopathy throughout the appeal period.

The Veteran's appeal for increased evaluations for his low back disability has been withdrawn.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including scheduling VA examinations and obtaining a supplemental statement of the case (SSOC).

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for further development, including a new VA examination to assess the severity of his service-connected DDD at L2-L3 and T11-T12 with herniated nucleus pulpous and left-side sciatica. The issues on appeal are related to entitlement to an increased disability rating and TDIU.

The Board is remanding the case for additional development to obtain medical records and provide updated VA examinations addressing the etiology of the Veteran's low back disability and BPH.

The Veteran's service-connected lumbosacral strain with degenerative disc disease is currently rated at 20 percent, but the evidence does not support a higher rating based on the criteria provided in the General Rating Formula for Diseases and Injuries of the Spine.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims of service connection for a low back disability and bilateral leg disabilities due to lack of evidence showing these conditions were incurred or aggravated by his military service.

The Board found that the Veteran's low back disability is not related to service or caused by a service-connected condition, and thus denied his claim for service connection.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claim of entitlement to service connection for a lower back disability, finding that there is no credible evidence linking his current condition to his active duty service.

The Veteran's claim for an increased rating for her service-connected degenerative joint disease of the lumbar spine is being remanded due to insufficient examination and treatment records.