Back / lumbar spine Board decisions

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims of service connection for various disabilities due to insufficient examination findings and lack of consideration of certain factors.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to insufficient evidence regarding the etiology of the Veteran's lower back condition, specifically related to his in-service parachute jumps and service pain.

The Board has denied a higher rating for the Veteran's low back strain, but has remanded the case due to additional development being needed. The TDIU claim is also on appeal.

The Board denied service connection for bilateral upper extremity cervical radiculopathy, lumbar spine disability, and lower extremity radiculopathy as the evidence did not show a current disability or etiology related to in-service injury.,The Board also denied service connection for a cervical spine disability, left shoulder disability, right shoulder disability, left foot disability, and right foot disability due to lack of evidence showing an in-service event, injury, or disease.

The Veteran's lumbar spondylosis with neural foramina narrowing at L4-L5 and L5-S1 was rated as 20 percent disabling from September 4, 2009 to May 6, 2015. The appeal is denied.

The Veteran's appeals for hypertension, allergic rhinitis, low back disorder, shin splints of the left leg, and shin splints of the right leg have been dismissed. The appeal for an initial rating greater than 30 percent for PTSD is remanded.

The Board has remanded the claims for increased ratings due to new evidence indicating muscle spasms and cervicalgia, which are not currently service-connected but may be related to the Veteran's service-connected back disabilities. The TDIU claim is also being remanded as VA did not obtain all requested private treatment records.

The Board has ordered a remand due to the need for additional development, including obtaining updated medical records and arranging for an examination by an orthopedist to determine the nature and etiology of the Veteran's current back disability.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims of service connection for cervical spine disorder, lumbar spine disorder, neuropathy of bilateral lower extremities, and bilateral foot disorder due to lack of substantial compliance with previous directives.

The Board has remanded the case for further examination and opinion regarding service connection for a cervical spine disability and an acquired psychiatric disability, including generalized anxiety disorder.

The Board has determined that additional evidence is needed to determine if the Veteran was unemployable prior to March 17, 2016 due to his service-connected lumbar spine disability. The case is being remanded for further examination and consideration.

An effective date of June 26, 2013, but no earlier, is assigned for the grant of an increased rating to 20 percent for the service-connected low back disability.,An effective date of June 26, 2013, but no earlier, is assigned for the grant of an increased rating to 40 percent for the service-connected diabetes mellitus, type II.,Entitlement to an effective date of January 1, 2006, but no earlier, for the grant of service connection for right lower extremity radiculopathy is granted.,Entitlement to an effective date of January 1, 2006, but no earlier, for the grant of service connection for left lower extremity radiculopathy is granted.

The Board has decided to remand the case for additional development, including obtaining medical records and scheduling a VA examination. The issues include clarifying the diagnosis of the Veteran's back disability, addressing in-service injury claims, post-Iraq deployment health assessment, and service connection on a secondary basis due to right knee disability.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for a higher rating for his service-connected cervical neck strain with degenerative disc disease, degenerative arthritis, and intervertebral disc syndrome. The issues of entitlement to increased ratings for right upper extremity radiculopathy and left upper extremity radiculopathy associated with this condition are also remanded.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for low back and neck/upper back disabilities, finding that there is no evidence of a chronic condition during service or within one year after discharge. The Board also found that the current disabilities are not related to military service.

The Board denied service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, left hand disability, and left knee disability. The Veteran's unspecified depressive disorder was not found to be related to his military service due to lack of in-service complaints or treatment.,Service connection for a lumbar spine disability was also denied as there is no evidence of chronicity within one year post-service.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for left knee, right knee, neck, and back disabilities due to incomplete medical records and need for new VA opinions.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings and service connection are being remanded due to the need for additional examinations and consideration of new evidence.

The Board denied an increased rating for the Veteran's thoracolumbar spine disorder, finding that the severity of his condition did not warrant a higher rating.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for bilateral stress fracture of the tibia, cervical spine disability, and lumbar spine disability due to outstanding medical records.