Back / lumbar spine Board decisions

The Board has reopened the Veteran's claim for service connection for back disability and granted it, finding new and material evidence. The psychiatric claim is not addressed as it was recharacterized to include PTSD, depression, and anxiety.

The Board has determined that a VA examination is needed to determine the nature and etiology of any diagnosed lower back disability, as the June 2011 VA examination report was incomplete. The Veteran's service medical records indicate complaints of low back pain during service, and his statements regarding continuity of symptomatology after service are also considered.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including obtaining VA treatment records and scheduling the Veteran for VA examinations to assess his back and sinus disorders.

The Veteran's lumbar spine disability is currently rated as 10 percent disabling, and the Board finds that this rating adequately reflects his current functional impairment.

The Board has found that the Veteran's cervical degenerative changes are at least as likely as not related to his military service, warranting service connection. The remaining claims for bilateral knee and shoulder conditions, back condition, and sleep apnea require additional development.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for a back disorder and coronary artery disease are being remanded due to the need for additional development, including obtaining updated VA treatment records and private treatment records. A VA examination is also required to determine if these conditions had onset in service or are otherwise related to his military service.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded for a new VA examination to determine the current severity of his low back pain with pseudoarthrosis, L5-S1. Any outstanding medical records relevant to the claim on appeal should be requested prior to examination.

The Veteran's thoracolumbar spine disability was granted an increased rating to 20 percent, effective July 31, 2008. Service connection for a cervical spine disability was denied as not secondary to the service-connected thoracolumbar spine disability.

The Veteran's service connection claims for degenerative disc disease, bilateral hearing loss, and tinnitus were denied as there is no evidence of a nexus to his military service.,Service connection was not granted because the Veteran did not have any diagnosed conditions related to his in-service noise exposure.

The Board has remanded the case for a new VA opinion regarding the relationship of the Veteran's current foot disorders to service. The remaining claims are inextricably intertwined with the issue of entitlement to service connection for a bilateral foot disorder and cannot be adjudicated at this time.

The Veteran's appeals have been withdrawn prior to the Board issuing a decision.

The Veteran's low back strain is currently rated at 40 percent, and the Board has determined that this rating adequately reflects her disability.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for a total rating based upon individual unemployability due to service-connected disabilities (TDIU). The case was remanded multiple times, but ultimately the TDIU claim was denied.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including obtaining service treatment records and scheduling a Travel Board hearing.

The Board has determined that new and material evidence has not been presented to reopen the Veteran's previously denied claims for service connection of heart disability, psychiatric disorder (including PTSD), and low back disorder. The Veteran does not have current diagnoses or disabilities related to his bilateral hands, knees, hips, chloracne, peripheral neuropathy, or tinnitus.

The Veteran's lumbar myositis is currently rated at 20 percent, but the VA examination and treatment records indicate that his symptoms do not meet or approximate the criteria for a higher rating under the applicable diagnostic codes.

The Veteran's service-connected lumbar spine disability, which includes chronic lumbosacral strain and multilevel degenerative disc disease, does not meet the criteria for a rating in excess of 40 percent due to lack of incapacitating episodes or unfavorable ankylosis.

The Board found that the Veteran's current low back disability is not related to his service, and denied his claim for service connection.

The Board has remanded the case due to inadequate opinion regarding service connection for low back and left hip disabilities. The issues of service connection are inextricably intertwined, so a decision on one issue cannot be rendered until the other is considered.

The Board has remanded the claims for a lumbar spine disability, bilateral hearing loss, and tinnitus to be reviewed by a Decision Review Officer (DRO) due to the Veteran's request for de novo review. The PTSD claim is also being remanded for DRO review.