Back / lumbar spine Board decisions

The Board has decided to remand the Veteran's claims for a rating in excess of 10 percent for intervertebral disc disease of the lumbar spine from March 20, 2013 and entitlement to a rating in excess of 20 percent for intervertebral disc disease from March 2, 2015 due to insufficient medical evidence. A new examination is required.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims due to incomplete service treatment records and outstanding VA treatment records. The Veteran is presumed to have Gulf War exposure.

The Veteran's claim of service connection for COPD was reopened and granted, effective December 17, 2013.,An earlier effective date for the grant of service connection for left lower extremity radiculopathy is denied.,A TDIU is granted.,The Veteran’s lumbar spine disability remains rated at 20 percent.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for low back disability, neck disability, and bilateral hearing loss. The evidence did not support a finding that these conditions were incurred or aggravated by military service.

The Veteran's claims for service connection have been granted in part. Service connection has been established for left shoulder condition, cervical spine condition (claimed as cervical spondylosis and stenosis), lumbar spinal stenosis, bilateral upper extremity radiculopathy, bilateral lower extremity radiculopathy, peripheral vestibular disorder, dizziness, obstructive sleep apnea, cardiovascular disease, headache condition, left upper extremity carpal tunnel syndrome, right upper extremity carpal tunnel syndrome, and service connection has been reopened for alcoholism and drug abuse. Other claims have been denied.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for a low back disorder was reopened, and the claim for sleep apnea was granted. The initial compensable rating for pseudofolliculitis barbae (PFB) is denied.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection and TDIU due to a lack of a VA examination addressing the etiology of his back condition. The Veteran is also required to provide any outstanding medical records related to his claimed disability.

The Board granted an extension of a temporary total rating for convalescence from July 1, 2012 to September 30, 2012 following March 2012 lumbar spine surgery. The appeal is denied beyond this period.

The Veteran's claims of increased ratings for lumbar spine degenerative disc disease with IVDS and arthritis, PTSD, right lower extremity peripheral radiculopathy, and left lower extremity peripheral radiculopathy are being remanded due to the need for additional VA examinations and the potential existence of outstanding treatment records.

The Veteran's combined disability rating of 70 percent from August 15, 2011 meets the schedular criteria for a TDIU rating. However, the Board finds that the preponderance of evidence does not support entitlement to a TDIU rating due to the cumulative functional impact of his service-connected disabilities.

The Board has determined that additional VA examinations are necessary to assess the severity of the Veteran's service-connected lumbar spine, right knee, and right ankle disabilities. The claims for increased ratings and service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder remain pending.

The Board has remanded the case due to the need for a VA examination to determine if the Veteran's current thoracolumbar spine disorder is related to his military service.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to insufficient medical opinions regarding whether the Veteran's low back disability is caused or aggravated by his service-connected bilateral knee strain with osteoarthritis and/or residuals of fractured right tibia. Additional evidence and an updated opinion are needed.

The Board denied service connection for scoliosis of the thoracolumbar spine as it determined that the Veteran's pre-existing congenital defect did not worsen during his active service.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to missing service treatment records and personnel records, including those related to a 1995 in-service low back injury. The Veteran's current lumbar spine disability is being reviewed.

The petition to reopen the previously denied claims for service connection for a right knee disorder and muscle spasms is granted.,The petition to reopen the previously denied claim for service connection for a low back disorder is denied.

The Board has determined that additional development is needed for the Veteran's claims, including obtaining VA and private treatment records and scheduling VA examinations to determine the nature and etiology of his low back disability, bilateral pes planus, and exercised induced hyperventilation (including asthma).

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims of entitlement to increased ratings for left wrist strain, right wrist strain, and thoracolumbar strain due to inadequate examination findings.

The Board has reopened the Veteran's claims for service connection for low back, left knee, right knee, bilateral hearing loss, obstructive sleep apnea, and migraine headaches. The claims are remanded for further development.

The Board has ordered new VA examinations for the Veteran's cervical spine disability, lumbar spine disability, and headache disability due to their worsening in severity.