Back / lumbar spine Board decisions

The Board has remanded the case due to the Veteran's request for a travel board hearing. The claim will be returned to the Board after the hearing is conducted.

The Veteran's hypertension and back disability are determined to be related to his active service. The appeal for hypertension is dismissed as the Veteran withdrew his appeal prior to a decision being made.

The Veteran's service-connected DDD at L5 with lumbar strain has been granted a 20 percent disability rating effective September 10, 2015.

The Veteran's cervical spine disability is currently rated at 20 percent, effective July 13, 2013. The rating reflects the severity of his condition as per VA criteria.

The Veteran's bilateral foot disability is rated at 50 percent since December 10, 2010. The Board has also granted service connection for his back, bilateral hip, and bilateral knee disabilities as secondary to his service-connected bilateral foot disability.

The Veteran's left knee disability is not service connected as it did not manifest during active duty or within one year of discharge, and there is no evidence linking the current condition to service.,There is insufficient evidence to establish a link between the Veteran's low back disability and his active service. The examiner opined that the current condition was more likely caused by injuries sustained while playing basketball after service.

The Board has determined that additional development is needed to address the Veteran's claims for service connection for a low back disability, an increased rating for urinary incontinence and recurrent urinary tract infections, and TDIU. The Veteran will need to undergo a VA examination to clarify the etiology of her low back disorder and provide opinions on whether it is more likely than not related to her period of military service or proximately due to or the result of her service-connected urinary disability.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's current low back disorders, including osteoarthritis and scoliosis of the lumbar spine, are not related to his military service.

The Veteran meets the schedular requirement for TDIU due to his service-connected disabilities, which render him unemployable. The Board grants a total disability rating based on individual unemployability.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims of service connection for lumbar spine and right knee disabilities, both to include as secondary to his service-connected residuals of a left distal tibia and fibula fracture.

The Board has ordered a remand due to the need for additional development, including an addendum opinion regarding whether the Veteran's cervical and thoracolumbar spine disabilities preexisted service or are otherwise etiologically related to his active military service.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for a right shoulder disability was reopened and granted. His claims for higher ratings for his lumbar spine and cervical spine disabilities, as well as the TDIU prior to August 1, 2008, are still pending.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for a rating in excess of 20 percent for his service-connected lumbosacral strain and separate compensable ratings for radiculopathy of the bilateral lower extremities due to additional development being required.

The Board has remanded the case due to scheduling issues for a video hearing, and the Veteran's appeal is now pending with the RO in Las Vegas, Nevada.

The Veteran's claim for an initial evaluation in excess of 10 percent for his service-connected lumbar spine disability was granted, with a rating of 10 percent effective from July 17, 2009.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims to reopen his service connection claims for right hip disability, low back disability, and arthritis of multiple joints due to lack of new and material evidence. The medical records submitted did not provide a nexus opinion indicating that the disabilities were incurred in or related to service.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded to obtain additional medical records and conduct a VA examination. The case will be readjudicated after these actions.

The Veteran's appeal for increased ratings and TDIU was granted. He is now entitled to a combined rating of 70 percent, which meets the criteria for a TDIU.

The Board has determined that the appellant's current back disorder, diagnosed as lumbar disc degeneration, thoracic/lumbar sprains, and muscle spasms, is related to an injury sustained during his period of active duty for training (ACDUTRA) in the United States Air National Guard. As a result, service connection for residuals of a back injury has been granted.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for lumbosacral strain is being remanded due to the need for a new VA examination and additional development of his medical records.