Back / lumbar spine Board decisions

The Board has decided to remand the case for additional development due to incomplete service treatment records and a need for a new VA examination.

The Board has remanded the case due to an inadequate examination from May 2013 and a need for additional evidence. The Veteran must be provided with an additional examination addressing the severity of his lumbar spine disability.

The Veteran's service-connected degenerative disc disease of the lumbar spine is currently rated at 10 percent, but the VA determined that a higher rating of 20 percent is warranted based on his limited range of motion and associated symptoms.

The Veteran's claim for a higher evaluation for her lumbar spine intervertebral disc syndrome prior to November 7, 2011 was denied as there was no evidence of ankylosis or incapacitating episodes requiring bed rest prescribed by a physician.

The Veteran's claim for an increased rating for his low back disability was denied, and the TDIU claim was also denied as he did not meet the percentage rating standards to be considered for individual unemployability.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for dizziness and low back pain have been denied as there is no evidence of a current disability, and the Board finds that the Veteran did not provide adequate reason or good cause to miss scheduled VA examinations.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for an initial compensable rating for his left cornea scar and service connection for a back disability, finding no evidence to support the requested ratings or connections.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's claimed back disorder with arthritis and nerve damage of the arms and hands, including carpal tunnel syndrome, were not incurred or aggravated by service. The evidence does not establish a link between these conditions and his military service.

The Board denied increased ratings for the Veteran's lumbar spine disability, maintaining a rating of 40 percent as of January 8, 2014.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining SSA records and scheduling VA examinations to address the etiology of his psychiatric disorder, spine, right foot, and right hip disabilities, as well as the severity of his service-connected right knee disabilities.

The Veteran's current right knee, left knee, and right shoulder disorders are causally related to in-service occurrences as a parachute jumper. The Board finds service connection is granted for these conditions.

The Veteran withdrew his appeals for higher initial ratings for right shoulder strain status post arthroscopic repair and cephalgia prior to the Board's decision.

The Veteran is seeking service connection for degenerative disc disease of the lumbar spine. The Board has ordered additional development to obtain relevant medical records and a VA examination.

The Board found that the Veteran's current right hand and low back disorders are not related to his military service, thus denying service connection for these conditions.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining updated VA examinations to assess the current severity of his service-connected left knee disability and low back disability.

The Veteran's right hip disability is related to service and granted. Other claims for service connection, TDIU, and increased ratings are addressed.

The Board denied the Veteran's request for an earlier effective date of November 9, 2009, for the grant of service connection for lumbar degenerative arthritis and disc disease.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for a back disorder is being remanded due to the need for additional medical examination and development of records.

The Board has remanded the case due to inadequate medical examination and needs further evaluation of the Veteran's low back disability.

The Veteran's claims for service connection are being remanded due to the need for a video conference hearing. The status of whether new and material evidence has been received to reopen his back condition claim is unknown, as is the status of his short leg syndrome claim.