Back / lumbar spine decisions — 2017

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including obtaining Social Security Administration records and a VA examination to determine if the Veteran's depression is aggravated by his service-connected skin disability.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining medical records and scheduling VA examinations to address his claims.

The Board has remanded the case for further development and readjudication due to submission of new evidence by the Appellant.

The Veteran's claims for increased evaluations and service connection are being remanded due to the need for additional development, including VA examinations.

The Veteran's appeal has been withdrawn and dismissed due to his request for withdrawal.

The Veteran's claims for increased disability ratings and reopening service connection have been denied. The Board found that new evidence did not relate to an unestablished fact necessary to substantiate the claim or was cumulative of previously submitted evidence.

The Board has determined that additional development is needed to address the nature and etiology of any diagnosed lumbar spine disabilities, including whether they are related to service or a service-connected disability.

The Board finds that the Veteran's thoracolumbar spine disorder had its onset in or is otherwise related to his duties as a jet engine mechanic during service, and grants service connection for this condition.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining VA and private treatment records, scheduling a new examination to assess the severity of his lumbar spine disability, and seeking authorization from the Veteran to obtain private mental health treatment records.

The Veteran's claims for increased evaluations for his cervical spine, right shoulder, right knee, and left knee disabilities were denied. The current ratings of 20 percent each are maintained.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities render him in need of regular aid and attendance, which is granted for SMC purposes.

The Veteran's bilateral knee disabilities have been rated based on limitation of motion, with no higher rating available due to the absence of compensable range of motion loss. The Veteran's lumbar spine disability has not resulted in ankylosis or favorable ankylosis, and thus a 40 percent rating is not warranted.,The Veteran's bilateral knee disabilities have been rated based on limitation of motion, with no higher rating available due to the absence of compensable range of motion loss. The Veteran's lumbar spine disability has resulted in forward flexion of the thoracolumbar spine of 30 degrees or less at times, warranting a 40 percent rating.

The Veteran's radiculopathy of the left lower extremity has been rated at 20 percent since January 27, 2009. The right lower extremity radiculopathy was also granted a separate 10 percent rating effective December 18, 2008.

The Board has remanded the claim for TDIU due to inadequate VA examination reports and requested new examinations. The case will be returned to the AOJ for further action.

The Veteran's lumbar spondylosis is currently rated at 10 percent, but the Board finds that it does not meet or approximate the criteria for a higher rating throughout the appeal period.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including obtaining VA and private treatment records, scheduling a VA examination to assess the Veteran's left knee disability, and another VA examination to determine the nature and etiology of his claimed back disability. The appeal is also inextricably intertwined with the TDIU claim.

The Board has remanded the case due to the need for a VA examination regarding the Veteran's left shoulder and low back disabilities, specifically whether they were aggravated by his periods of Active Duty Reserves (ACDUTRA).

The Veteran's low back strain was rated at 10% prior to August 6, 2010. From that date forward, the rating has been increased to 20%. The current rating is based on limitation of motion and pain.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for a compensable initial rating prior to April 15, 2015, for radiculopathy of the bilateral lower extremities and a rating in excess of 20 percent for discogenic degenerative changes, lumbosacral spine with intervertebral disc syndrome (IVDS).

The Board found that the Veteran's lumbar spine disorder did not begin during service and is not related to his military service. The claim for service connection was denied.