Back / lumbar spine Board decisions

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded due to the need for additional examinations and consideration of new evidence. The issues include service connection, depression ratings, lumbar spine, right lower extremity neuropathy, cervical spine, and right knee disabilities.

The Board has determined that additional development is necessary to properly adjudicate the Veteran's claim of entitlement to service connection for a low back condition, including obtaining relevant medical records and providing an appropriate VA examination.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded due to the need for a new examination and updated VA treatment records.

The Veteran's low back disability is service-connected, but the claim for a separate left shoulder disability and psychiatric disorder remains pending.,The Veteran has submitted evidence that suggests his current disabilities may be related to his service-connected cervical spine disability.

The Board has reopened the Veteran's claims of service connection for a neck disorder and a back disorder, as well as granted service connection for PTSD. The Veteran is also awarded service connection for right shoulder arthritis, right elbow arthritis, right hand CTS, left hand CTS, breast cancer residuals (claimed as contaminated drinking water at Camp Lejeune), and dental disorders.

The Board has reopened the Veteran's claim for service connection for a low back strain and granted service connection for a low back disability, finding that his current condition is related to his military service.

The Board has granted service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus, but denied the Veteran's claims for sleep apnea, a bilateral hand disability, and back disability. The Board found that while the Veteran had these conditions, there was no evidence to support their direct relationship with his military service.

The Board has determined that the VA examinations are not adequate for decision-making purposes due to lack of opinion on secondary service connection. The Veteran's back disability may have pre-existed his 1998 and 1999 on-the-job injuries, and efforts should be made to obtain private treatment records from those dates.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities have led to his inability to obtain and maintain substantially gainful employment, warranting a TDIU effective January 31, 2013.

The Veteran's cervical spine disorder, including DDD and thoracolumbar spine disorder are not found to be caused or aggravated by the conditions that were compensated under 38 U.S.C.A. § 1151 'as if' service-connected.

The Board has determined that additional development is needed to determine if the Veteran's current lumbar spine disability, including her January 1989 complaint of lower back pain after lifting torpedo afterbodies, is related to her military service. The case will be remanded for further action.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining National Guard service records and medical records from his 1989 hernia surgery. The Board will also request an addendum to the June 2013 VA examination report.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection and TDIU due to incomplete development of records, including VA treatment records and private medical records. The Veteran is required to provide additional information or authorization for these records.

The Board has found new and material evidence to reopen the claims for service connection of a low back disability with neurological impairment, an organizational delusional disorder (post head trauma), and PTSD. These claims are now being remanded for further development.

The Board has determined that additional development is needed to properly adjudicate the Veteran's claims for service connection for left knee, right knee, left hip, and back conditions.

The Veteran's claims for higher ratings for his service-connected cervical spine and left shoulder disabilities are being remanded due to the need for additional development, including an updated examination.

The Veteran is awarded a clothing allowance for the year 2013 due to his service-connected lumbar spine disability causing wear and tear on his clothing.

The Veteran's claim for an increased rating for his service-connected lower back disorder was denied by the Board, as the evidence did not show forward flexion of the thoracolumbar spine in excess of 30 degrees or incapacitating episodes due to IVDS during any 12-month period.

The Board has remanded the case for further development, including obtaining missing service treatment records and seeking VA and private medical opinions. The Veteran's claims for headaches, low back disability, and dizziness are being reviewed.

The Veteran's use of a back brace to treat his service-connected low back disability is found to tend to wear or tear his clothing, and he is granted one clothing allowance for the year 2014. The use of capsaicin cream prescribed for his skin condition is not considered as it does not meet the criteria for a clothing allowance.