Back / lumbar spine Board decisions

The Veteran's case is being remanded for further development, including obtaining medical records and scheduling examinations to assess his service-connected disabilities.

The Veteran's neck and low back disabilities are found to be related to his military service, including a motor vehicle accident in 1980. The VA examiner provided medical evidence supporting the link between these conditions and service.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to the Veteran's unavailability for a VA examination. The case will be returned to the Agency of Original Jurisdiction (AOJ) for further development and consideration.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for kidney disease and TDIU. The Veteran was found not to have a current disability related to kidney disease, and his combined rating did not meet the criteria for TDIU based on his service-connected disabilities.

The Veteran's appeal for service connection for a back disorder has been dismissed as he withdrew his appeal.

The Board found that the Veteran's neck, low back, bilateral hip, and bilateral knee conditions are not caused by or aggravated by his service-connected foot disorder.

The Board found that a cervical spine disability was incurred in service and granted service connection for it. The lumbar spine, left leg (including ankle and knee disorders), right wrist, right knee, and right arm disabilities were not shown to be related to service or any presumptive exposure basis.

The Board has determined that the evidence is at least in equipoise as to whether the Veteran's current tinnitus originated during service, and thus grants service connection for tinnitus. The lower back disability issue remains pending.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded to obtain a retrospective medical opinion regarding her low back disability prior to September 4, 2015. The case will be returned for further adjudication.

The Veteran's tinnitus was found to be caused by in-service exposure to excessive and harmful noise, warranting service connection. The lumbar spine degenerative arthritis claim is remanded for further action.

The Veteran's lumbar spine disability is rated at 20 percent, effective February 23, 2016. Effective June 5, 2015, the Veteran was granted separate 20 percent ratings for his service-connected right and left upper extremity radiculopathy.

The Veteran requested to terminate his appeals for increased ratings and TDIU, effective upon receipt of the withdrawal request in June 2016.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's currently diagnosed lumbar spine degenerative disc disease and left knee osteoarthritis began in service and have persisted since then, warranting service connection for these conditions.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development to obtain medical records, conduct examinations, and determine the appropriate rating for his service-connected left leg gunshot wound disability.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for additional development due to potential service in periods of active duty, ACDUTRA, and INACDUTRA since November 2012. The back disability claim will be addressed after obtaining all relevant records and scheduling a VA examination. The ovarian cyst claim requires issuance of a statement of the case.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development due to issues with VA examination reports and new claims not yet perfected.

The Veteran's appeal has been withdrawn due to his request for withdrawal of the appeal.

The Board has remanded the case for a Travel Board hearing due to the Veteran's inability to attend the previously scheduled hearing. The appeal is also remanded for further development.

The Veteran's claim for TDIU is being remanded due to the need for additional development, including obtaining vocational rehabilitation and counseling records, private treatment records, and locating a July 2013 rating decision. The case will be returned to the Board after these steps are completed.

The Veteran's claims for service connection were denied. The Board found that steatohepatitis, an acquired psychiatric disorder, and a gastrointestinal disorder are not related to military service.