Back / lumbar spine Board decisions

The Board found that the Veteran's current lumbar spine disability is not related to his military service and denied his claim for service connection.

The Veteran's cervical spine DDD has been rated at 20 percent since February 13, 2009. The VA examiner found that the Veteran was not able to perform repetitive use testing with at least three repetitions due to severe pain and stiffness caused by his neck condition.

The Board found that the Veteran's current low back disability and arthritis did not manifest during service or within one year of separation, and thus denied his claim for service connection.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for further development, including seeking clarification from the Veteran's treating chiropractor regarding his low back disability and service connection for traumatic brain injury. The TDIU claim is also inextricably intertwined with these issues.

The Board has directed that additional medical opinions be obtained regarding the service connection claims for lumbar and cervical spine disabilities, which are secondary to a service-connected left ankle disability. The case is being remanded for these purposes.

The Veteran's petition to reopen her claim for service connection for a low back disability was granted. The Board also found that the left knee disability warranted a rating in excess of 10 percent.

The Veteran's low back strain with sciatica is currently evaluated at 20 percent, and the Board found that this evaluation adequately reflects her current disability level.

The Board has remanded the case for a videoconference hearing as requested by the Veteran. The appeal is not about service connection at this stage.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for further examination and development of his claims, including a new VA examination to assess the severity of his service-connected back disability. The TDIU claim will also be addressed.

The Board has determined that additional development is needed for the Veteran's claims, including obtaining medical records and arranging for a VA examination. The appeal will be remanded to the Agency of Original Jurisdiction (AOJ).

The Board denied service connection for a lumbar spine condition, neurological condition of the bilateral upper extremities, and tinnitus as there was no evidence showing these conditions were incurred or aggravated by active service.

The Board has remanded the case due to a scheduling issue for a videoconference hearing. The appeal will be further considered after the hearing.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including obtaining VA and private treatment records, as well as SSA and state disability benefits records. The Veteran's claim for service connection for a back disability is currently under review.

The Veteran's low back disability and lumbar radiculopathy are being remanded for further examination to determine if they are related to his service-connected left knee disability.

The Board is remanding the case for additional development to obtain service treatment records and verify all periods of ACDUTRA and INACDUTRA, as well as any line of duty investigations. The TDIU claim will be deferred until these issues are resolved.

The Veteran's appeal involves multiple conditions, including cervical and thoracolumbar spine disorders, knee and ankle injuries, a muscle disorder, diabetes mellitus due to herbicide exposure, multiple sclerosis, peripheral neuropathy of the upper and lower extremities, and an anxiety disorder. The claims are being remanded for additional development.

The Veteran's eye disability claim has been reopened. The back disability claim is not established as the evidence does not show a nexus to service.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for increased ratings and TDIU due to insufficient evidence on file, including a need for additional VA examinations and records.

The Veteran's service-connected knee disabilities are found to be the cause of his lumbosacral spine disability, and he is granted a rating in excess of 20 percent for right knee instability.

The Veteran's lumbar spine degenerative joint disease was granted an increased rating of 40 percent effective December 7, 2013. The issues related to right lower extremity radiculopathy and leg length discrepancy were also addressed.