Back / lumbar spine Board decisions

The Board has remanded several issues for further development and examination, including service connection for a left hip disability, rating of lumbar spine degenerative disc disease, GERD, radiculopathy of the lower extremities, PTSD, and left knee strain.

The Board has granted service connection for a lower back disability, bilateral hip disability, and stomach disability (chronic diarrhea and irritable bowel syndrome) due to the Veteran's obesity caused by his service-connected disabilities. The rating for the stomach disability remains at 30%.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims of service connection for lumbar and cervical spine disorders due to insufficient evidence regarding their etiology. The Veteran is required to provide additional medical records, and a VA examination will be conducted to determine if his current spinal conditions are related to his military service.

The Board denied service connection for degenerative disc disease of the lumbosacral spine, finding that the Veteran's pre-existing low back disorder was not aggravated by military service.

The Board is remanding the case to obtain a new medical opinion regarding whether any current low back disability, including strain and degenerative disc disease, is related to service, particularly in-service low back strain.

The Board has withdrawn the appeals on tinnitus and TDIU. The case is remanded for a new VA examination to assess the severity of the Veteran's lumbar spine disability, including associated radiculopathy.

The Veteran's depressive disorder, NOS with anxiety, NOS is rated at 100 percent and he has other service-connected disabilities independently ratable at 60 percent or more. Therefore, the Veteran qualifies for special monthly compensation (SMC) pursuant to 38 U.S.C. § 1114(s).

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient evidence regarding the relationship between the Veteran's low back pain and his service, including a lack of diagnosis and functional impairment assessment.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's lumbar strain is at least as likely as not related to an in-service injury, and therefore grants service connection for this condition.

The Veteran's claims for low back disorder, recurrent fevers, respiratory disorder, and eczema have been reopened. However, the evidence does not meet the criteria for service connection in any of these cases.

The Veteran's appeal for service connection for a bilateral shoulder condition is dismissed as he withdrew the claim. The case remains on remand for other issues.,The Veteran’s scoliosis of the thoracolumbar spine disability does not warrant a higher rating due to its current level of impairment.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities prevented him from securing or following a substantially gainful occupation since December 31, 2008. The Board granted TDIU effective November 9, 2015.

The Board has decided to remand the Veteran's claims for increased ratings due to outstanding treatment records and additional VA examinations.

The Board has remanded the cases for further development and examination as they are incomplete or require clarification.

The Board has determined that additional development is necessary and the appeal is, therefore, REMANDED. The Veteran's back disability and right knee disability are both rated below their current severity.

The Veteran's lumbar spine disability, including osteoarthritis and degenerative disc disease, is presumed to have been incurred during service due to chronic symptoms of the condition.

The Board denied an increased rating for bilateral pes planus/plantar fasciitis and a TDIU claim. The Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not preclude substantially gainful employment.

The Board denied service connection for a cervical spine disability (neck disability), lumbar spine disability (back disability), and bilateral upper extremity radiculopathy. The decision also noted that the Veteran's claims for temporary total convalescence ratings for his neck and back disabilities were not granted.,Service connection was denied as there is no evidence linking the current disabilities to service or a service-connected condition.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for further evaluation due to conflicting opinions on the relationship between his cervical spine disability and service, as well as insufficient range of motion findings in his lumbar spine.

The Veteran's petition to reopen claims for bilateral calf pain, low back disability, hypertension, and an acquired psychiatric disorder secondary to service-connected bilateral pes planus was denied. The appeals are mixed as some issues were granted while others were not.,New evidence has been submitted that supports the reopening of the Veteran’s claims for bilateral calf pain, low back disability, hypertension, and an acquired psychiatric disorder secondary to her service-connected bilateral pes planus.