Back / lumbar spine Board decisions

The Board has denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for a low back disorder, finding that his current disability is not related to an injury sustained during active duty. The left shoulder disorder claim was granted.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including obtaining VA and private medical records from Chalmers P. Wylie VA Ambulatory Care Center, and for an addendum opinion regarding the Veteran's cervical spine disorders.

The Veteran's claim for increased rating of his left shoulder disability was granted, with a current effective date of January 16, 2009. The Veteran is currently rated at 20 percent for this condition.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including VA examinations to determine the nature and etiology of various disabilities claimed by the Veteran. The issues include service connection for psychiatric disability, lumbar spine disability, radiculopathy, diaphoresis, arm pain, prostate disability, inguinal hernia, and hypertension.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's left hip, low back, and left leg disabilities are secondary to his service-connected total left knee replacement.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded for a new VA examination to assess his ability to function in most employment settings due to his service-connected disabilities, and for further development of the record.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's current low back disability is not related to his service, and therefore, does not meet the criteria for service connection.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's back, left leg, and right leg disabilities are service-connected based on direct evidence of injury or disease during service.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's cervical spine strain, lumbar spine strain with arthritis and disc disease, headache disorder, and TMJ disability are all service-connected as they were incurred during his active duty.

The Board previously denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for a low back disability, to include as secondary to his service-connected right hip and right thigh disabilities. The case is now remanded due to an inadequate VHA opinion based on inaccurate facts.

The Board has remanded the case for further development due to inadequate rationale in the VA examination opinions and failure to consider the Veteran's statements and those of fellow service members.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for further action, including scheduling a videoconference hearing before the Board of Veterans' Appeals.

The Board has assigned separate 10 percent ratings for each knee due to pain and functional limitation, resulting in a mixed disposition on the issues of service connection. The Veteran's bilateral knee disability is currently rated as 10 percent disabling under Diagnostic Codes 5260 and 5261.

The Veteran's initial rating for thoracolumbar spine strain with scoliosis was granted at a 10 percent rating, and his migraine headaches were initially rated at a non-compensable (0%) rating. The current effective date is not provided in the decision summary.

The Veteran's claims for a higher rating for his lumbosacral strain and TDIU are being remanded due to the need for additional examination and development of medical records.

The Veteran withdrew his appeal for higher ratings of tinnitus, low back disability, and hemorrhoids disabilities.

The Veteran's low back disability was not shown to meet the criteria for a higher rating, and his claim for an increased rating is denied.

The Board finds that the Veteran's current lumbar spine disability, diagnosed to include arthritis or DJD, is related to service and grants service connection for this condition.

The Veteran's service connection claims for a back disability, right leg disability, prostate disorder, and erectile dysfunction are granted. Service connection is established for ischemic heart disease due to herbicide exposure in Vietnam.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development due to missing VA treatment records, specifically related to an August 2014 spine surgery.