Back / lumbar spine Board decisions

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development to determine the etiology of his claimed conditions and whether they are related to service.

The Board has determined that the case must be remanded due to incomplete records and an inadequate VA examination. The Veteran's service connection claims for a low back disorder and left lower extremity radiculopathy will need further development.

The Veteran's osteoarthritis of the lumbar spine was granted a rating of 40 percent prior to August 20, 2012, and in excess of 40 percent thereafter. The condition is not service-connected based on exposure to burn pits, Agent Orange, Camp Lejeune, radiation, Gulf War Syndrome, or other presumptive conditions.

The Board has determined that the Veteran does not have current diagnoses for several of his claimed conditions, and thus service connection cannot be granted. The claims are denied.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded for additional development to determine the nature and etiology of her claimed disabilities, including whether they are related to service.

The Veteran's claim for a higher initial rating for his service-connected chronic lumbar muscle strain is being remanded due to the need for a VA examination and updated medical records.

The Veteran's claim for an earlier effective date for the grant of service connection for lumbar myositis was denied. The Board found that the earliest claim for lumbar myositis was submitted in April 2012, and therefore, the effective date is set at April 2, 2012.

The Veteran's sinusitis claim is addressed in the decision. The Board finds that there is no evidence of a current disability and no relationship to service.,Regarding the right shoulder, the VA examiner opined that the current condition was less likely than not incurred in or caused by an in-service injury, event, or illness. However, the Veteran has additional medical evidence from an MRI showing tendinopathy and/or an incomplete thickness tear involving the supraspinatus tendon.,For the cervical spine disability, the VA examiner opined that it is less likely than not incurred in or caused by an in-service injury, event, or illness. The Board finds this opinion more persuasive given the lack of documented treatment for neck pain after discharge and normal X-ray studies for many years following discharge.,The lumbar spine disability claim has been reopened but remains denied as there is no evidence of a current disability and no relationship to service.

The Veteran's claim for pseudofolliculitis has new and material evidence received, but service connection is denied. The right shoulder disability claim remains pending due to need for additional examination. Service connection for the lumbar spine condition was previously denied.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's current disabilities of the right knee, lumbar spine, and cervical spine are not related to his military service.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings and TDIU are being remanded due to the need for additional examinations, as well as the potential impact on his entitlement to TDIU.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining medical records and scheduling new VA examinations to assess the severity of his service-connected lumbar spine disorder and bilateral lower extremity radiculopathy.

The Board has remanded the claims for additional development due to inadequate examinations and inextricably intertwined issues.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's claimed conditions are not service-connected due to lack of evidence showing a nexus between his current disabilities and active service.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for right knee, left knee, lumbar spine, and neck disabilities have been granted.,All issues on appeal are now resolved.

The Veteran's claims for service connection were denied across multiple conditions, including PTSD, alcohol abuse, GERD, diverticulosis/diverticulitis, sleep apnea, erectile dysfunction, and peripheral neuropathy. The Board found no evidence of a nexus between these conditions and active service or any service-connected disabilities.

The Veteran's service-connected lumbar spine disability has been productive of forward flexion to 60 degrees at worst with pain on motion and functional loss, but not by favorable ankylosis. The criteria for a disability rating in excess of 20 percent have been met.

The Veteran's service-connected lumbar spine disability has been rated at 50 percent since December 2009. The Board found that the evidence did not meet the criteria for a higher rating due to lack of unfavorable ankylosis or incapacitating episodes of intervertebral disc syndrome.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for lumbosacral strain, right ankle disability, and personality disorder were denied by the RO in April 2010. The effective date of his awards was January 13, 2012.,The Veteran's claim for a right ankle disability has been reopened due to new evidence submitted since the April 2010 denial.

The Veteran's degenerative osteoarthritis of the lumbar spine with IVDS was granted an initial rating of 20 percent from April 5, 2010 forward.