Back / lumbar spine Board decisions

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities render him so helpless as to be in need of regular aid and attendance, warranting SMC based on the need for regular aid and attendance.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for a lumbar spine condition and an acquired psychiatric disorder (including anxiety disorder, depressive disorder, and cannabis abuse disorder) due to lack of new and material evidence. The claim for a lumbar spine condition was previously denied in May 2007, and no new or material evidence has been received since then. For the psychiatric disorders, there is insufficient evidence linking them to service.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's current thoracolumbar degenerative disc disease is related to service, granting his claim for service connection.

The Veteran's claims for initial noncompensable rating for scar of the right flank and a rating in excess of 10 percent for lumbosacral strain are being remanded due to procedural issues.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss disability is rated as noncompensable, with no worse than Level II hearing impairment in the right ear and Level I hearing impairment in the left ear.,For the entire period on appeal, the Veteran’s service-connected disabilities have precluded him from securing or following a substantially gainful occupation.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded for further development, including VA examinations to determine the nature and etiology of his cervical spine condition, lumbar spine condition, and left knee strain with calcific tendonitis.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to insufficient evidence regarding the Veteran's low back disorder, including its onset and relationship to service. The Veteran will need to provide additional medical records and undergo a VA examination.

The Veteran's lumbar spine disability is rated at a 40 percent evaluation, effective from the date of this decision.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to a discrepancy between the Veteran's record and the August 2017 VA examination, which did not include information about urinary incontinence. An additional examination is required to determine the current severity of his service-connected thoracic spine disability.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for various conditions, including arthritis in multiple joints to include lumbosacral spine, cervical spine, and bilateral wrists; an eye disability (cataracts); a CVA; chronic kidney disease; hypertension; diabetes mellitus, type II; peripheral neuropathy of the bilateral lower extremities; peripheral neuropathy of the bilateral upper extremities; and CAD. The Board found no new and material evidence to reopen the claim for arthritis in multiple joints.

The Board has remanded the cases for further development and examination due to incomplete records and need for clarification on service connection.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for left hip and back disorders as secondary to his service-connected right knee disability, finding that there was no evidence showing these conditions were caused or aggravated by his right knee disability.

The Board has determined that new and material evidence has been received to reopen the service connection claims for low back disability, left hip disability, right hip disability, left knee disability, and right knee disability. The Veteran's depressive disorder is found to be proximately due to his service-connected left shoulder disability.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for a lumbar spine disability, headache disability, hepatitis, vision disorder, lung disorder (asbestosis and mesothelioma), and an acquired psychiatric disorder (PTSD) due to incomplete evidence and need for additional medical opinions.

The Board denied service connection for a right shoulder disability, low back disability, and radiculopathy of the right lower extremity as there was no evidence to support that these conditions began during active service or were related to an in-service injury.

The claim of service connection for back disability and seizure disorder has been remanded due to the submission of new evidence. The Veteran's claims will be reconsidered by the AOJ.

The Board has remanded the case to the AOJ for referral to the Director, Compensation Service, for consideration of whether a TDIU on an extraschedular basis is warranted.

The Board has remanded the claims of service connection for back and psychiatric disabilities due to incomplete records and need for a VA examination.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection and increased rating of his lumbar spine disability due to insufficient evidence in the record, including a lack of VA examination findings and consideration of functional loss during flare-ups. The Veteran is also required to provide additional private medical records.

The Veteran's low back strain is currently rated at 10 percent, effective September 28, 1998. The Board finds that a higher rating is not warranted as the evidence does not show forward flexion of the thoracolumbar spine greater than 30 degrees but not greater than 60 degrees.,The Veteran's radiculopathy of the left leg has been rated at 20 percent, effective September 28, 1998. The Board finds that a higher rating is not warranted as there are no incapacitating episodes.