Back / lumbar spine Board decisions

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection due to insufficient evidence and need for further examination.

The Veteran's service-connected thoracic spondylosis, arthritis, and chronic low back strain are currently rated at 40 percent for the entire appeal period.

The Veteran's service-connected conditions, including major depressive disorder, degenerative joint disease of the lumbar spine, and coronary artery disease, have rendered him unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation. His claim for service connection for coronary artery disease is granted due to presumed exposure to herbicides in Thailand.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings and service connection were remanded due to incomplete or insufficient evidence. The lumbar spine disability was rated at 20 percent, bilateral knee disabilities at 10 percent, right ankle disability at 10 percent, tinnitus at 10 percent, and migraine disability at noncompensable. Service connection for elbow, hand, left ankle, IBS, GERD, upper extremity nerve disorder, and lower extremity nerve disorder were denied.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for lumbar and thoracic spine disabilities due to insufficient development of records.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for left hip degenerative joint disease, lumbar and sacroiliac joints degenerative joint disease, and cervical spondylosis were denied as his conditions did not meet the criteria for higher ratings under VA rating criteria.

The Veteran's claims for service connection have been remanded due to the need for further examination and evaluation. The issues include bilateral hearing loss, low back disability, left knee disability, right knee disability, carpal tunnel of the upper extremities, cervical spine disability, and shoulder disabilities.

The Board has remanded the case due to scheduling issues for a VA examination and opinion regarding service connection for thoracolumbar spine disability, including whether any current conditions are related to service or aggravated by pre-existing scoliosis.

The Veteran's claims for PTSD, bilateral foot condition, right ankle condition, and left ankle condition have been reopened. The claim for back disability has not been reopened.

The Veteran's service connection claim for a back disability was denied as there is no probative medical evidence that indicates the Veteran’s current lumbar spine disability was incurred in service. The Veteran's PTSD claim for an increased rating to over 50% since June 4, 2013, was also denied.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient rationale in previous medical opinions and a need for a new VA examination to address the nature and etiology of the Veteran's claimed low back disability.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for a back disorder, finding that her current condition is not related to her active duty service and is more likely age-related changes. The secondary service connection claim was also denied.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for a low back condition and left inguinal hernia. The decision found no new and material evidence to reopen the low back condition claim, and determined that there is no current diagnosis of a left inguinal hernia or residuals.

The Board has decided to remand the issue of service connection for a back disability due to the Veteran's failure to report for an examination. The case will be returned for further action, including scheduling a new VA examination and obtaining any outstanding treatment records.

The Veteran's appeals for increased ratings and TDIU were denied. The case is REMANDED to the Director of Compensation Service for consideration of whether entitlement to an extra-schedular TDIU is warranted.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection due to new and material evidence having been received. The claims are now pending before the AOJ for further development.

The Board has determined that new and material evidence has been received to reopen the Veteran's claims for service connection for back disability, gastritis, pancreatitis, inguinal hernia, and hemorrhoids. The appeals are remanded for further development.

The Board has remanded the case for further examination and readjudication due to inadequate VA examinations in determining the severity of the Veteran's thoracolumbar spine sprain with degenerative arthritis.

The Veteran's left knee disability, right knee disability, and spondylolysis of the lumbar spine are all found to be related to his military service.,Service connection is granted for a left knee disability, a right knee disability, and spondylolysis of the lumbar spine.

The Board has remanded the cases for further development and consideration, including obtaining additional medical records and providing an addendum opinion regarding the Veteran's back disability. The issues of service connection for a back disability, initial ratings for keloid scars of the neck and ear, and hemorrhoids are being returned to the agency of original jurisdiction (AOJ) for readjudication.