Back / lumbar spine Board decisions

The Board has remanded the case for additional development due to newly submitted VA treatment records.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded due to the need for a Travel Board hearing. The issues of service connection and increased rating remain pending.

The Veteran's claims for an increased rating for lumbar degenerative disc disease and a TDIU are being remanded due to the need for additional development, including obtaining updated VA treatment records and the Veteran's vocational rehabilitation file. The Veteran is also asked to complete a VA Form 21-8940 to provide relevant employment information.

The Board finds that the Veteran is entitled to service connection for a low back disability, but not for left and right hip disabilities.,There is no evidence of chronic disease during or within one year after service. The current hip disabilities are more likely related to post-service events.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, diabetes mellitus, type II, and a low back disorder. The appeal was not about service connection at all.

The Board has ordered a remand for additional development due to the need for an examination and opinion regarding the etiology of the Veteran's low back and groin disabilities.

The Board found that the Veteran's kidney disability did not preexist service and is not otherwise etiologically related to active service. The Veteran's current back disability was not shown to have had its onset during active service, nor were symptoms of the condition chronic or continuous since service separation.

The Veteran's service-connected scoliosis of the lumbar and lower thoracic spine was granted a 40 percent rating effective January 6, 2015. This is the maximum schedular rating available for this condition under VA's General Rating Formula for Diseases or Injuries of the Spine.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for a new VA examination to assess the current severity of his service-connected low back disability, as his symptoms have reportedly worsened since the last examination in June 2013.

The Board has determined that additional development is needed in order to properly adjudicate the Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hip disorder and low back disorder.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including PTSD, thoracolumbar strain, radiculopathy, and migraine headaches, have rendered him unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation. The Board has determined that the criteria for a TDIU are met.

The Veteran's claim for an earlier effective date for a TDIU was denied as there were no pending claims prior to October 1, 2012 and the criteria for a schedular TDIU had not been met.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for GERD, TBI residuals, and bilateral plantar fasciitis were denied as his conditions did not meet the criteria for higher ratings under VA rating criteria.

The Board found that the Veteran's back disability was not caused or aggravated by his service-connected left lower extremity disabilities, and denied both claims for service connection.

The Board has remanded the case due to incomplete records and the need for additional medical opinions.

The Board has remanded the case for further development, including obtaining a new medical opinion to determine if the Veteran's lower back disability is related to service and/or secondary to his service-connected cervical spine disability.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded due to the failure of his scheduled Board hearing. He will be given another opportunity to appear for a hearing before a Veterans Law Judge at the RO.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for low back and right shoulder disabilities, as well as his requests for increased evaluations for pilonidal cyst and pilonidal cyst scar. The VA examinations indicated that any current conditions were not related to service.

The Veteran's thoracolumbar spine disability, hypertension, arteriosclerotic peripheral vascular disease of the right lower extremity, and right knee strain are all service-connected. The Veteran is granted increased ratings for his hypertension (to 10%) and right knee strain (from 0% to 10% prior to October 5, 2015).

The Veteran's claim for a higher rating for his chronic adjustment disorder with mixed anxiety and depressed mood has been granted, effective from June 27, 2011. The other issues have not been resolved.