Back / lumbar spine Board decisions

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for further development, including obtaining clarification from the doctor who completed a Service-Connected Questionnaire and scheduling an appropriate VA examination to address his left hip disability. The other issues are also being remanded.

The Veteran's claims of service connection for back, hearing loss, Achilles tendon, and knee disabilities were denied as there is no current evidence of these conditions.

The Veteran's back disorder is not service-connected, but his PTSD and bilateral flat feet combined are sufficient to meet the criteria for a TDIU effective July 30, 2009.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including obtaining medical records and providing an addendum opinion regarding the etiology of the Veteran's low back and bilateral knee disorders.

The Board found that the evidence did not support a finding that the service-connected right knee, left knee, or left ankle disabilities caused or aggravated the Veteran's claimed low back disability.

The Board found that the Veteran's current low back and cervical spine disabilities are not related to his military service, thus denying his claims for service connection.

The Veteran's claim for higher initial ratings for his service-connected mechanical low back pain with facet arthropathy at L5-S1 is being remanded due to the need for additional development, including an appropriate VA examination.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims due to inadequate medical opinions and the need for additional development of his records.

The Veteran's claim for an initial rating in excess of 30 percent for MS prior to May 24, 2010, and a TDIU rating from November 13, 2006, to May 24, 2010, was denied as the evidence did not meet the criteria for these ratings.

The Veteran's right wrist disability is rated at 10 percent, effective December 1, 2009. The earlier effective date for TDIU rating has been granted.

The Veteran's appeal for service connection for a low back disability has been withdrawn.

The Board has determined that the Veteran does not have a low back or heart disability that is causally related to service, and thus denied both claims.

The Board has determined that further development is needed for the Veteran's claims, including obtaining additional medical records and scheduling VA examinations to reassess his spine disability and determine if a right knee disability is related to service.

The Board finds it not factually ascertainable that the Veteran's service-connected back disability or peripheral neuropathy underwent an increase in disability between June 2010 and June 2011, thus denying earlier effective dates for his increased ratings.

The Veteran's appeal has been withdrawn prior to the Board making a decision.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development to assess the impact of his service-connected disabilities on his ability to work, including side-effects from narcotic pain medications.

The Board has ordered additional development to determine the nature and etiology of the Veteran's low back disability, including whether a pre-service injury existed and was aggravated by service-connected recurrent lumbar strain.

The Board has determined that the criteria for reconsidering a prior denial of service connection for a low back disability have been met, and thus grants the benefit sought.

The Veteran's muscle condition, low back disability, right knee disability, and index finger disability are not service connected. The Board found no evidence to support the Veteran's claims for increased ratings.

The Veteran's claims for higher evaluations and TDIU were denied. The Board found that the evidence did not support a finding of ankylosis or any other condition warranting a higher evaluation, and his right lower extremity radiculopathy was only compensable at 10 percent prior to November 16, 2013.