Back / lumbar spine Board decisions

The Board has remanded the case due to the need for a videoconference hearing and the issuance of an SOC on the issues of service connection for PTSD, lumbosacral spine disorder, and bilateral hearing loss.

The Board has reopened the claim of service connection for a back disability and granted it, finding that new and material evidence had been received to support the claim. The Veteran's current back disabilities are related to his military service.

The Veteran's lumbosacral spondylosis with disk protrusion and right leg sciatica are currently rated at 10 percent each, but the Board finds no basis to grant higher ratings under the applicable rating criteria.

The Board has determined, based on the probative evidence of record, that the Veteran's low back disability had its onset during his active service and grants service connection for a low back disability.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including new VA examinations of his hearing loss and lumbar spine disability. The case will be reviewed by the RO after this development.

The Veteran's claims for higher ratings for lumbar spondylosis with intervertebral disc syndrome, radiculopathy of the right sciatic nerve, osteoarthritis of the right knee, and right knee instability are being remanded due to outstanding VA treatment records potentially pertinent to these matters.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's claimed disabilities are not related to service and have denied his claims for service connection.

The Board has remanded the case due to a scheduling issue for a videoconference hearing. The Veteran's claim is still pending and will be reconsidered after the hearing.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including a VA examination to assess the severity of her service-connected low back disability and completion of a VA Form 21-8940 (Veteran's Application for Increased Compensation Based on Unemployability). The TDIU claim is intertwined with the claim for a higher rating for the low back disability.

The Board has ordered a new VA examination to determine the nature and etiology of any currently diagnosed low back disability and left foot disability, as these claims are related to service-connected right knee disability. The Veteran's claims for secondary service connection will be reconsidered after the examinations.

The Veteran has withdrawn his appeal, thus the case is dismissed.

The Veteran's initial claim for a higher rating for her service-connected back disability was granted, and she is currently receiving a 40 percent disability rating since March 6, 2015.

The Veteran's service-connected intervertebral disc syndrome, to include degenerative disc disease of the lumbar spine, postoperative was granted a disability rating in excess of 20 percent as of October 22, 2015. However, prior to this date, his claim for an initial rating higher than 10 percent was denied.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including obtaining updated VA treatment records and scheduling a VA examination to address the etiology of the Veteran's cervical spine and left shoulder disabilities.

The Veteran's lower back disability was rated at 10 percent prior to June 13, 2014, and increased to 40 percent thereafter.

The Veteran's claim for a TDIU is being remanded due to the need for clarification of the VA physician's opinion in his discharge application and consideration of CUE in the July 2012 rating decision regarding service connection for hypertension.

The Board has remanded the case for further development, including securing a VA examination and scheduling a travel board hearing. The Veteran's claims of service connection for residuals of a traumatic brain injury and tension type headaches are also pending.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities prevented him from maintaining substantial gainful employment since April 10, 2007. The Board grants an effective date of April 10, 2007 for the grant of TDIU.

The Board found that the Veteran's low back disability, diagnosed as spondylolisthesis, spinal fusion, residual lower extremity radiculopathy, or arthritis of the thoracolumbar spine, is not related to his service and denied his claim for service connection.

The Veteran's appeal was dismissed due to his death, and the Board has no jurisdiction to adjudicate the merits of this appeal.