Back / lumbar spine Board decisions

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for increased ratings for his lumbar back disability with degenerative disc disease due to insufficient evidence and need for further examination.

The Veteran's lumbar spine condition is rated at 40 percent, the maximum rating available under DC 5237. The Board finds that a higher rating is not warranted as there is no evidence of unfavorable ankylosis.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for lumbosacral and cervical spine disabilities due to inadequate VA examinations. The Veteran is seeking service connection for these conditions, which he contends are related to his military service, including multiple jumps out of airplanes.

The Board has granted the Veteran's claim of service connection for a lumbosacral spine disability, finding that the evidence is in relative equipoise as to whether there is an etiological link between the Veteran’s current lumbosacral spine disability and active service. The decision resolves all reasonable doubt in favor of the Veteran.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus have been granted service connection. The remaining issues, including PTSD, sleep apnea, left shoulder disability, back disability, skin cancer, and kidney stones (claimed as kidney stones), are remanded for further examination and opinion.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings and service connection are remanded due to the need for additional medical opinions and treatment records.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for low back pain, left knee pain, right knee pain, tinnitus, COPD, and bilateral foot disorder (plantar fasciitis) have been remanded due to the need for additional development.,Specifically, the Board is directed to further develop evidence related to these conditions.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient evidence regarding the Veteran's service connection claim for a back disorder. The examiner is required to provide an opinion on whether the Veteran's current back condition is related to her military service, including any verified periods of active duty or inactive duty training.

The Board has determined that the claims for service connection for various conditions, including right back pain, cervical spinal stenosis, chronic sinusitis, and depression are remanded due to incomplete development of records.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient development of evidence, including a need for additional VA examinations and obtaining private medical records. The Veteran's lower back disability is being evaluated again.

The Veteran's appeal for a higher disability rating for their lumbar spine condition has been withdrawn by the appellant's attorney.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for a back disability, finding that there was no evidence of a pre-existing condition and that any current disability is not related to military service.

The Board has decided to remand the Veteran's claims for osteoarthritis of the thoracolumbar spine and an acquired psychiatric disability (schizophrenia) due to the need for additional medical examinations. The Veteran must be provided with a VA examination to assess the nature and etiology of his current disabilities, including whether they are related to service.

The Veteran's initial claim for a higher rating for lumbar degenerative disc disease with disc protrusion was denied. The Veteran is currently rated at 20 percent, effective April 8, 2013.,The Veteran's right foot disability, initially rated as non-compensable due to the scar from his bunionectomy and osteotomy, has been increased to a 10 percent rating since April 8, 2013. The claim for a higher initial rating remains denied.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities render him unable to engage and retain substantially gainful employment, resulting in a grant of TDIU.

The Veteran's claim for increased ratings for her service-connected back disability is remanded due to the inadequacy of a previous VA examination in assessing additional functional loss during flare-ups.

The Board has granted service connection for a low back disability and also granted the Veteran's request to reopen his claim of entitlement to service connection for a low back disability. The decision finds that the Veteran's current low back disability is related to an in-service injury, and resolves all doubts in favor of the Veteran.

The Veteran's hearing loss is currently rated as noncompensable, and the Board finds that there is no evidence of a compensable disability during the appeal period.,Service connection for a cervical spine disability was denied due to lack of in-service injury or disease, and insufficient continuity of symptoms since service. The examiner will be asked to provide an addendum opinion regarding this issue.

The Board has granted service connection for cervical spine disorder, lumbar spine disorder, and sleep apnea. The Veteran's pre-existing conditions were aggravated during active duty training (ACDUTRA).

The Board has denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for a back disorder, finding that there is no evidence to support a link between his current disability and his active duty service or any service-connected condition. The decision also found insufficient evidence to establish secondary service connection due to cold injury.