Back / lumbar spine Board decisions

The Veteran's claims for service connection are being remanded due to the need for additional development, including obtaining relevant service treatment records and scheduling VA examinations.

The Veteran's low back disability, left and right sciatic nerve impairments have been rated at 10 percent since August 22, 2014. The appeal for higher ratings is denied.

The Veteran's claim of service connection for a lower back disability is being remanded due to the need for a videoconference hearing.

The Board denied service connection for a low back disability claimed as secondary to the service-connected irritable bowel syndrome (IBS). The Veteran's IBS is currently rated at 30 percent, and there are no exceptional circumstances warranting an increased rating. The TDIU claim was also denied.

The Board has determined that new and material evidence has been received to reopen the claim of service connection for a low back disability, which is now granted. The Veteran's current low back and right hip disabilities are found to be at least as likely as not caused by his service-connected knee disabilities.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for further development of her service-connected hypothyroidism and low back disability.

The Board found that a current thoracolumbar spine disability was not present until many years after separation from active duty and is unrelated to service. The Veteran's hearing loss and tinnitus were also determined to be unrelated to service.

The Veteran withdrew his appeal for the issues of service connection for a skin rash and left ankle disability prior to the Board's decision.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for a lung disability, including asbestosis and mesothelioma was reopened due to new evidence. Service connection is granted for mesothelioma, low back disability, bilateral hip disability, right knee disability, left knee disability, and depression.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for further development, including a VA examination to assess the nature and etiology of his claimed left foot and lumbar spine disabilities.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient opinions regarding the etiology of the Veteran's back disability and scoliosis, as well as a need for additional VA examinations.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's service-connected disabilities have rendered him unemployable, but has not yet decided whether he is entitled to a higher rating for his posttraumatic phlebitis of the right leg or an initial rating in excess of 50 percent for his psychiatric disability.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded to the RO for scheduling a Board videoconference hearing. The issues of service connection and rating for various conditions are pending.

The Board granted service connection for residuals of a lumbar strain and assigned an initial 20 percent rating effective from January 1, 2013. The Veteran's headaches are rated as 50 percent disabling, effective from April 2014. The TDIU claim is also granted.

The Veteran's low back disability is rated at 40 percent, and he is granted a separate 10 percent rating for radiculopathy of the left lower extremity. The Board denied his TDIU claim as his service-connected disabilities do not preclude him from securing or following a substantially gainful occupation.

The Board has determined that the VA examination reports are not adequate to decide the Veteran's claim and therefore, a remand is necessary for further development.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for bilateral pes planus and lumbar spine disorder to include spinal stenosis due to potential issues with the adequacy of the July 2013 VA examination, as well as the need for additional medical records.

The Board has reopened the claim of service connection for PTSD and found new and material evidence to support it. However, the claims for psychiatric disorder, hepatitis C residuals, thoracolumbar spine disorder, headaches, neck disability, and left knee disability have been denied as there is no current diagnosis or sufficient evidence linking these conditions to service.

The Board found no evidence to support a finding that the Veteran's current low back disability had its onset in service or is otherwise related to active duty, including his claimed in-service back injury.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's lumbosacral and cervical spine disabilities are related to his active duty service, resulting in a grant of service connection for these conditions.