Back / lumbar spine Board decisions

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including a VA examination and review of medical records.

The Board found that the Veteran's March 2006 notice of disagreement was not timely, and thus denied his claims for service connection for PTSD, hypertension, diabetes mellitus, a neck condition, and a back condition.

The Board has decided to remand the Veteran's claim for a lower and middle back disorder due to incomplete records, including accident investigation reports from Honduras, post-service treatment records, and private medical releases. The case will be reviewed based on all available evidence.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining VA medical opinions regarding the etiology of his current disabilities and obtaining treatment records from the Navy Hospital at Mucosa.

The Veteran's degenerative disc disease of the lumbosacral spine was not productive of forward flexion of the thoracolumbar spine to greater than 30 degrees but not greater than 60 degrees, or a combined range of motion of the thoracolumbar spine not greater than 120 degrees. The Veteran's condition did not meet the criteria for an evaluation in excess of 10 percent prior to December 5, 2013 and on or after December 5, 2013.

The Board found that the Veteran's current lumbar and cervical spine disabilities did not have their onset in service or are otherwise related to his military service. The evidence does not support a finding of service connection for these conditions.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's claimed conditions, including generalized arthritis, a low back disability, and an inguinal hernia, are not related to his military service. The claims for service connection have been denied.

The Board has remanded the case for further development and to obtain additional medical opinions regarding the Veteran's low back disorder, psychiatric disorders, and erectile dysfunction.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded due to the need for additional VA examinations and further development of his claims.

The Veteran's SMC based on aid and attendance for his service-connected disabilities, including right knee injury, chondromalacia of the left knee, and lumbar spine disability, was granted effective May 14, 2013.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including a new VA examination and consideration of private medical records. The Veteran's claim for service connection for a left knee disorder is being reviewed.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claim for service connection for a low back condition due to incomplete development and need for additional medical opinions.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining updated VA treatment records and scheduling an orthopedic examination. The claims of entitlement to a higher rating for his lumbar spine disability and TDIU will be considered.

The VA Board found that the Veteran's scoliosis and lordosis of the lumbar spine is a congenital defect, not service-connected. The examiner determined that the Veteran does not suffer from an additional disability due to aggravation of this defect during his active military service.

The Veteran's low back pain syndrome is not found to meet the criteria for a compensable rating, and his service-connected disabilities do not render him unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation.

The Board has determined that the appellant's lumbar disc disease is not related to his active duty service, including ACDUTRA. As a result, the claim for service connection was denied.

The Veteran's claim for a higher rating for his service-connected chronic low back strain is being remanded due to incomplete VA examination reports and the need for additional medical records.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities did not meet the schedular criteria for TDIU, and referral for extraschedular consideration was not warranted as her employment during this period was due to personal reasons rather than her service-connected conditions.

The Veteran's IBS is currently rated at 10 percent after June 2, 2008 and at 30 percent from October 9, 2014. The Board finds that the current ratings adequately reflect his disability picture.

The Board has granted an initial disability evaluation of 10 percent for left lower extremity radiculopathy, effective June 18, 2007.