Back / lumbar spine Board decisions

The Board has remanded the claims for bilateral knee disorder, cervical spine disorder, and thoracolumbar spine disorder due to insufficient medical opinions regarding their relationship to service. The Veteran's military service included parachute jumps which may be relevant.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for lumbosacral strain and SMC due to housebound status, finding that there was no evidence of a current disability related to an in-service injury or disease.

The Veteran's SMC based on loss of use of the right foot is granted effective January 24, 2012. The Board has remanded for additional development regarding his hypertension and service connection claims.

The Veteran's claims for increased disability ratings are being remanded due to incomplete VA treatment records from the Columbus VAMC. The Board will obtain these records and readjudicate the cases.

The Board denied service connection for residuals of a neck fracture, chronic cervical spine arthralgias, and degenerative disc disease at C4-C5 with left C6 nerve root involvement. The Veteran's in-service injury was not shown to be related to his current conditions.

The Veteran's claims for service connection have been reopened, and entitlement to service connection has been granted for a back disorder. The remaining issues of right wrist and ankle disorders are remanded for further development.

The Veteran's claim for a higher rating from March 20, 2015 for cervical spine degenerative disc disease is denied. The Board has also remanded the issue of whether a higher rating was warranted from March 20, 2014 to March 20, 2015.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to inadequate examination and failure to consider all relevant evidence, including the Veteran's lay statements and service records.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection due to insufficient evidence and need for further examination. The issues include a back disability and obstructive sleep apnea, with the latter potentially secondary to pulmonary sarcoidosis.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for a higher initial rating for degenerative disc disease of the lumbar spine and entitlement to total disability based on individual unemployability due to service-connected disabilities. The issues are inextricably intertwined, so both must be addressed together.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to inadequate medical opinion and failure to comply with previous remands. The Veteran's back condition is being reviewed again for a new medical opinion.

The Veteran's intervertebral disc syndrome (IVDS) with laminectomies and discectomies L4-5 with spinal stimulator placement is currently rated at 40 percent, which is the maximum rating available under VA guidelines. The Board found that there was no evidence of unfavorable ankylosis or functional equivalent of unfavorable ankylosis.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for lumbar strain with intervertebral disc syndrome, left lower extremity radiculopathy, and right lower extremity radiculopathy due to a cancelled VA examination. The Veteran was unable to attend the scheduled examination.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to incomplete opinion regarding the Veteran's lower back disorder. The examiner did not consider the Veteran's military occupational specialty and post-service injury, leading to a lack of substantial compliance with the remand directives.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to inadequate reasons and bases for denying service connection for a back disorder. The claim will be reconsidered with an addendum opinion from an examiner.

The Veteran's appeal for a rating in excess of 20 percent for his lumbar spine disability from July 15, 2011 through May 3, 2013 has been dismissed due to the death of the Veteran before the Board could make a decision.

The Board has determined that additional development is needed to make an informed decision on the Veteran's claims, including obtaining outstanding medical records and VA treatment records.

The Board has found that additional development is required before the Veteran's claims for neck, right hand, and back disabilities can be decided. The case is being remanded to obtain Army Reserve records from specific locations and to request medical opinions.

The Veteran's PTSD, left shoulder DJD, and lower back disability claims are being remanded due to the need for additional VA examinations.

The Veteran withdrew his appeals for the low back disability, right lower extremity sciatic nerve, and left lower extremity sciatic nerve.