Back / lumbar spine Board decisions

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient medical opinions regarding the etiology of the Veteran's back disability. The appeal is now pending for further review.

The Veteran's right shoulder disability was rated at 20 percent prior to September 1, 2015, and the Board found that a higher rating is not warranted. After September 1, 2015, the Veteran's disability picture did not warrant a rating in excess of 30 percent.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining his National Guard and Army Reserve service records, as well as any relevant STRs from the hospital in Germany. The claim for a left hip disorder will also be reconsidered due to outstanding medical records.

The Veteran's appeal has been withdrawn, and the case is dismissed.

The Board found that the Veteran does not have a current bilateral ankle disability. For his neck and back disabilities, as well as hypertension, service connection is denied due to lack of evidence linking these conditions to service or any presumptive exposure basis.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities have resulted in a combined rating of 90 percent, which is sufficient to warrant a TDIU. The Veteran has been found unemployable due to his chronic migraine headaches and other service-connected conditions.,The Veteran was granted a TDIU based on the severity of his service-connected disabilities, including his migraines.

The Board has determined that additional development is needed to properly adjudicate the Veteran's claims for service connection for back and right ankle disorders, including consideration of Agent Orange exposure.

The Veteran's lumbar spine disability was initially rated at 10 percent prior to June 6, 2013. From that date forward, the disability has been rated as 20 percent.

The Veteran was granted service connection for a lumbar spine disorder, but denied service connection for a cervical spine disorder. The Board found that the Veteran's back problems began in service and have continued since then, while his neck issues did not occur during service.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for Hepatitis C, and denied his claims for service connection for a back condition, cervical condition, PTSD, and major depressive disorder and/or generalized anxiety disorder. The issues of service connection for bilateral hearing loss, a back condition, a cervical condition, PTSD, and major depressive disorder and/or generalized anxiety disorder are pending.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded due to the need for additional development, including obtaining SSA disability records and information regarding his TDIU claim.

The Veteran withdrew her appeals of the issues regarding service connection for low back and bilateral hip conditions.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including obtaining a medical opinion to assess whether the service-connected lumbosacral strain and right femur fracture residuals with leg length discrepancy resulted in an inability to exercise which contributed to the Veteran's death from ischemic cardiomyopathy.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities have rendered him unable to secure and maintain substantially gainful employment, and the Board has granted a TDIU effective April 29, 2013.

The Veteran's back disability is rated at 20 percent for the entire appeal period, effective from when it was first service-connected.

The Veteran's lumbar spine degenerative arthritis disability has not resulted in functional loss due to pain or other factors, and does not meet the criteria for a higher rating under any applicable diagnostic code.

The Veteran's low back disability was rated at 10% prior to December 29, 2014. Since then, the disability has been rated at 40%. The rating is based on current symptoms and not due to a separate condition or exposure.

The Veteran withdrew his claims for all issues related to service connection.

The Veteran's appeals for increased evaluations of his lower back condition, right shoulder arthritis, migraine headaches, and periodic limb movement disorder have been withdrawn prior to the Board issuing a decision. The claims are therefore dismissed.

The Board has determined that additional development is needed to address the Veteran's claims, including obtaining medical records and providing supplemental opinions regarding her service connection claims.