Back / lumbar spine Board decisions

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded due to the need for a videoconference hearing. The issues of increased ratings and service connection are not addressed as this matter has been returned to the AOJ.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded due to his inability to attend the scheduled videoconference hearing at the RO. His back disability caused him to seek emergency room treatment.

The Board has decided to remand the case for additional development, including obtaining VA treatment records and scheduling a new VA examination.

The Board has decided to remand the case for further development and an opinion regarding whether the Veteran's lumbar spine disability is related to his military service.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims of service connection for various conditions, including a back disability, lung and spleen disabilities, anemia with Crohn's disease, G-6-PD deficiency, bilateral knee disability, traumatic arthritis of the left hip, pes planus, and generalized anxiety disorder. The decision also addressed whether new and material evidence had been received to reopen a previously denied claim for service connection for a back disability.

The Board granted an effective date of September 16, 2009 for the assignment of a 60 percent rating for the Veteran's low back disability and service connection for left foot drop and right-sided sciatica. The effective dates for these ancillary claims were also granted.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claim of service connection for a back disability due to potential development of additional medical evidence and clarification on the nature of diagnosed scoliosis.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for further development, including obtaining VA and Social Security Administration records, as well as a new VA examination to assess the current severity of his lumbar spine disability. The TDIU claim will also be addressed.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for a low back disorder and TDIU are being remanded due to the need for additional development, including obtaining medical records and scheduling an examination.

The Board is remanding the case for additional development, including obtaining VA treatment records and scheduling a VA examination to determine if the Veteran has current lumbar spine or related lower extremity disability, as well as any acquired psychiatric disability manifested by recurring bad dreams. The issues of service connection for hypertension, lumbar spine disability, and a disability manifested by recurring bad dreams are also being remanded.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's lumbar spine disability is not related to his active service and therefore denied his claim for service connection.

The Board found that the Veteran's pre-existing lumbar spine condition was not aggravated by military service and did not manifest during or as a result of active military service, thus denying his claim for service connection.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including obtaining medical records and preparing an addendum opinion regarding whether the Veteran's low back disorder is permanently aggravated by his service-connected PTSD.

The Veteran's claims for increased rating and TDIU are being remanded due to the need for additional development, including obtaining VA treatment records and SSA records.

The Board has remanded the claims of service connection for skin disability, right hip disability, and back disability due to inadequate examination reports and failure to consider continuity of symptomatology.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including his abnormal mitral valve with congested heart failure and multiple knee injuries, rendered him unable to secure or follow substantially gainful employment prior to July 26, 2013. Since then, he has been in receipt of special monthly compensation (SMC) due to aid and attendance/housebound.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for bilateral hearing loss and low back disability were denied. The Board found that the evidence did not support a higher rating for either condition.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded due to the need for additional medical opinions regarding the etiology of his current headache disability and whether it is related to his service-connected back disability or PTSD.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for neurologic abnormalities was not adjudicated. The Board denied the initial compensable rating and 10 percent thereafter ratings for his lumbar spine disability, finding that the evidence did not support a higher rating at any point during the appeal period.

The Veteran's low back disability, diagnosed as degenerative disc disease of the lumbar spine, was previously rated at 20 percent prior to February 23, 2010. The Board found that his symptoms did not warrant a higher rating based on limitation of motion or incapacitating episodes.