Back / lumbar spine Board decisions

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for a left ankle disorder and a back disorder due to incomplete consideration of all relevant evidence, including the Veteran's lay statements regarding continuous symptoms since service.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development due to new evidence received after the last SSOC, and because of the inextricably intertwined nature of the Veteran's back condition claim with his left leg condition claim.

The Veteran's combined disability rating is less than the schedular percentage requirements for a TDIU, and his service-connected disabilities do not render him unemployable.

The Veteran's lumbar spine disability is rated at 40 percent from June 29, 2011 through June 12, 2013 and from October 1, 2013. The rating was granted as the disability has been shown to be manifested by forward flexion of the thoracolumbar spine limited to 30 degrees or less.

The Veteran requested to withdraw his appeals for the issues of service connection for a low back disorder, left knee condition, paralysis of the sciatic nerve, and substance abuse. The appeal is dismissed.

The Veteran's chronic low back strain has been rated at 20 percent since March 2007, with no changes in rating during the appeal period.

The Board has remanded the case for further development, including scheduling an examination and obtaining additional medical evidence. The Veteran's claims for service connection are pending.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded due to issues related to service connection for end stage renal disease, hypertension, and a chronic back disability. The claims are inextricably intertwined with the claim of service connection for hypertension.

The Board denied service connection for venereal disease, asbestos exposure residuals, bilateral eye disability (macular degeneration), right knee disability, and back disability as the evidence did not show these conditions were present during the pendency of the claim.

The Board has reopened the Veteran's claim of entitlement to service connection for a back disorder, but remanded for additional development as requested by the Veteran.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims due to the need for additional VA examinations and records, particularly regarding his claimed psychiatric disorders, left foot disorder, cervical spine disorder, and thoracolumbar spine disorder.

The Board has determined that additional examinations and development are necessary to properly adjudicate the Veteran's claims, including for his lumbar spine disorder, bilateral leg and foot disorders, and right eye disorder.

The Veteran has withdrawn his appeals regarding service connection for back disability and traumatic brain injury.

The Board has determined that additional development is needed to ensure all relevant evidence is considered in the adjudication of the Veteran's claims, including obtaining his personnel file and verifying his service dates, securing STRs related to Reserve service, and conducting verification for alleged stressors. The Veteran also needs examinations for his claimed neck and psychiatric disabilities.

The Veteran's tinnitus and low back disability are found to have had their onset during service, warranting service connection.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for bilateral blindness was denied due to lack of evidence showing a disability in service or within one year after discharge. The newly submitted evidence does not raise a reasonable possibility of substantiating the claim.,The Veteran's claim for service connection for paresthesias, left leg (secondary to back disability) was denied as there is no evidence of a current disability related to active duty.

The reduction of the Veteran's disability rating for lumbar degenerative disc disease from 40 percent to 10 percent was improper, and the criteria for restoration of the 40 percent rating have been met.

The Veteran's low back disability is currently rated as 10 percent disabling, and the Board finds that it does not meet or approximate criteria for a higher rating under any applicable diagnostic code.

The Veteran's claims of service connection for an acquired psychiatric disability, left knee disability, and lumbar spine disability were granted. The Veteran was also awarded a higher rating for her residuals of traumatic brain injury (TBI) and migraine headaches.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's death was caused by his service-connected conditions, and thus grants service connection for the cause of the Veteran's death. The claim for accrued benefits is denied as there were no pending claims at the time of the Veteran's death. The Appellant's request for entitlement to a death pension is remanded due to the conflict in determining whether the Veteran's death was service-connected or not.