Back / lumbar spine Board decisions

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings of his service-connected left knee, right knee, and lumbar spine disabilities are being remanded due to inadequate examination reports and the need for clarification regarding flare-ups.

The Veteran's claim for an increased rating in excess of 10 percent for his back disability is being remanded due to a pre-decisional duty to assist error. A new examination is required to assess the current severity of the Veteran's lumbar spine disability.

Service connection is denied for hyperlipidemia, low back pain, diabetes mellitus, bladder disability, diminishing eyesight (cataracts), right lower extremity neurologic disability (diabetic neuropathy), right shoulder disability, erectile dysfunction, and allergic rhinitis.,The Veteran's service in the Southwest Asia theater of operations renders him a Persian Gulf War veteran. The PACT Act presumes service connection for qualifying chronic disabilities due to exposure to environmental hazards including fine particulate matter.

The Veteran's postoperative hernia and ilio-inguinal neuropathy have not been rated higher than noncompensable.,Service connection for a back disability has been granted, but the rating remains at noncompensable.

The Board has remanded the claims for clothing allowances due to a lack of evidence in the record, including the Veteran's prosthetics records and AOJ decisions. The claim must be returned to the AOJ with all relevant documents.

The Board has granted service connection for right knee condition, left knee condition, back condition, and generalized anxiety disorder. The conditions are related to the Veteran's active-duty service.

The Board has decided to remand the Veteran's claim for a low back disability, including neurological impairments such as radiculopathy, due to inadequate examination and opinion. The case will be reviewed again with an appropriate medical evaluation.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for residuals of a lower back injury, finding that there is no causal relationship between the current disability and service.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings were denied as the combined disability rating exceeded the maximum allowable under the amputation rule. The GERD claim was also denied.

The Veteran's migraine headaches are currently rated at 30 percent, and his low back disability is also rated at 30 percent. The Board found that the evidence did not support a higher rating for either condition.

The Veteran's service connection claim for degenerative arthritis of the thoracolumbar spine is granted. The issue of service connection for gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) is remanded due to a duty to assist error.

The Board has granted an earlier effective date of service connection for depressive disorder from March 2, 2010. The claim for secondary service connection for lumbosacral strain is remanded due to the need for a clarifying VA medical opinion.

The Veteran's TDIU claim is remanded for consideration of an extraschedular rating due to service-connected disabilities prior to November 24, 2010.

The Veteran's appeals for service connection have been withdrawn due to the Veteran's representative requesting withdrawal of all appeals.,All appeals for service connection have been dismissed as per the Veteran's representative's requests.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for cervical degenerative disc disease and respiratory or lung condition (claimed as TB) due to insufficient evidence regarding service connection. The claims are being remanded to obtain additional medical opinions and potentially obtain missing service treatment records.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's chronic back condition, including intervertebral disc syndrome, degenerative disc disease, lumbar spine, and lumbar spondylosis with radiculopathies, is related to his military service. The decision grants service connection for these conditions.

The Veteran's claim for a temporary total evaluation due to back surgery in September 2015 is denied as the intent to file or claim was not received within one year of the surgery.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to errors in duty to assist, and a new VA examination is needed to determine if the Veteran's back condition had its onset during service.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claim for total disability based on individual unemployability (TDIU) as his service-connected disabilities do not meet the criteria for schedular TDIU, and there is no evidence to suggest he is unable to obtain or maintain a substantially gainful occupation.

The Board has granted the Veteran's claim of service connection for a low back disorder, diagnosed as lumbosacral strain, lumbar degenerative disc disease, and degenerative arthritis of the spine. The decision is based on evidence showing chronicity of symptoms during and after military service.