Back / lumbar spine decisions — 2018

The Board has remanded the case for further development, including obtaining updated VA or private treatment records and scheduling a new VA examination. The Veteran's TDIU claim is also inextricably intertwined with his left knee disabilities.

The Board denied service connection for low back disorder and heart condition, finding that the current conditions are not related to service or any in-service events.

The Veteran's degenerative disc disease of the cervical spine is granted as secondary to his service-connected lower back disability. His right upper extremity numbness is also granted as secondary to a service-connected condition, specifically his breast cancer. The Board has remanded several other issues including ratings for his lower back and radiculopathy conditions.

The Board has decided to remand several issues related to the Veteran's service connection claims and rating determinations for further development. The Veteran is required to provide information about his treatment providers, obtain relevant VA and private records, and undergo examinations.

The Veteran's appeal for increased disability ratings and effective dates has been dismissed due to his death.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection and increased rating, as well as his claim for a TDIU. The Veteran is required to provide updated medical records and complete VA forms. He also needs to undergo examinations for his ankle disorders, foot conditions, and mental health issues.

The Veteran's PTSD is rated at 100% effective October 29, 2008. The Veteran was granted a TDIU effective April 19, 2009.

The Board has reopened the Veteran's claims for service connection for various foot, knee, back, neck, and shoulder conditions due to new evidence. The issues of increased ratings for asthma, migraines, PTSD, and service connection for right knee, neck, trapezius disorder (claimed as back and neck trapezius strain and a right shoulder disorder), thoracic outlet syndrome, bilateral pes planus, metatarsalgia, and left foot tendonitis are remanded.

The Board denied service connection for degenerative disc disease of the lower back (also claimed as osteoarthritis of the spine) because there was no evidence showing it had its onset during active duty, within one year after separation from service, or was otherwise etiologically related to service.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for lumbar spine, right hip, and left hip disabilities due to insufficient medical opinions regarding their etiology. The VA is required to obtain Social Security Administration records and schedule the Veteran for additional examinations.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities did not prevent him from obtaining and maintaining substantially gainful employment prior to December 13, 2016.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection and increased ratings due to inadequate VA examinations, lack of proper testing in previous examinations, and need for additional medical opinions.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded for additional examinations to determine the current severity of his lumbar spine degenerative disc disease and left knee disabilities, as well as their impact on his bowels and bladder. The rating assigned will be determined after further examination.

The Veteran's MDD and lumbar and thoracic spine strain have been granted service connection, with a rating of 70 percent for the latter since December 5, 2014.

The Board denied service connection for a low back disorder as there was no evidence of an in-service injury or disease, and the current condition is not related to service.

The Veteran's service connection claims for various conditions have been granted with effective dates based on when he filed his claims, not necessarily when the disabilities were first diagnosed or treated.

The Veteran's appeal to receive an initial rating in excess of 20 percent for his service-connected back disorder has been withdrawn by the appellant and their representative.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for a brain tumor, back disorder, and hip disorder. The decision is based on the lack of evidence linking these conditions to his military service or any other factors.

The Veteran's lumbar spine disability has been evaluated at 10 percent for the period on appeal. The Board finds that remand is necessary to obtain a retrospective VA examination and determine the severity of the Veteran’s service-connected lumbar spine disability prior to his death.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, except for prostate cancer, do not prevent him from obtaining and maintaining substantially gainful employment.