Back / lumbar spine Board decisions

The Board has remanded the claims for cervical spine disorder, left lower extremity radiculopathy with restless leg syndrome, lumbar degenerative disc disease, right lower extremity radiculopathy, and unemployability benefits due to service-connected disabilities. Further development is needed including obtaining medical records, examining the appellant's cervical spine condition, and evaluating his bilateral lower extremity radiculopathy and lumbar degenerative disc disease.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings and TDIU are being remanded due to the need for additional records from Social Security Administration.

The Veteran's claims for earlier effective dates for service connection were dismissed as the Veteran withdrew his appeals.,No new and material evidence was received to reopen any of the previously denied claims.

The Veteran's back disability is remanded for additional development, including obtaining a retrospective opinion regarding prior VA examinations and another examination during a flare-up. The TDIU claim is also remanded due to its inextricability with the increased rating claim.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for degenerative joint disease of the cervical and lumbar spines have been denied as his symptoms do not meet or approximate the criteria for a higher rating under the applicable VA rating criteria.

The Board has reopened the Veteran's claims of service connection for low back and left knee disorders. The claim for a low back disorder is denied as there is no evidence linking the current condition to service or any service-connected disability.

The Veteran's degenerative disc disease of the lumbar spine is currently rated at 40 percent from June 30, 2016. The Board denied higher initial ratings for this condition.

The Veteran's degenerative disc disease with foraminal narrowing of the thoracolumbar spine is rated at 40 percent since December 1, 2008. The right lower extremity radiculopathy is rated at 40 percent and left lower extremity radiculopathy is rated at 20 percent since October 1, 2013.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded due to the need for additional examinations and evaluations regarding his bilateral foot disability, low back disability, and sciatica claims. The hearing loss claim has been denied.

The Veteran's disability evaluation for mechanical low back pain was restored to 20% effective January 1, 2014 after it had been reduced to noncompensable in October 2013. The evidence did not show a sustained improvement from the time of the initial grant of service connection in November 2007.

The Veteran's service-connected cervical and lumbar spine disorders are rated at 30% and 20%, respectively, effective September 13, 2018.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for fibromyalgia, sacroiliitis, and bilateral hearing loss due to potential errors in the original claim or insufficient evidence.

The Board denied service connection for a low back disability, finding that the evidence does not support a link between current back problems and in-service symptomatology.

The Board has remanded the cases for further development due to inadequate or incomplete examination reports and because there is evidence of a relationship between the Veteran's current conditions and his military service.

The Veteran's PTSD claim has been granted with a 50% rating. The Board finds the evidence insufficient for an increased rating and remands his claims for back condition and heart disability.

The Board denied service connection for a low back disability and left leg radiculopathy, finding no evidence of a current disability related to service.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for disabilities of the upper and lower back, as well as a mental disorder secondary to those conditions, have been denied. The claim for disabilities of the upper and lower back is based on direct evidence rather than a presumption or secondary service connection.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection due to insufficient evidence and requests for additional development, including obtaining SSA records and verifying in-service stressors.

The Board has remanded the cases for further action due to missing SSA records and outstanding DRO hearing request.

The Board has reopened the Veteran's claim for service connection for a lower back condition due to new and material evidence. The remaining issues of service connection are remanded.