Back / lumbar spine Board decisions

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including new VA examinations and medical opinions to address the severity of her service-connected low back disability and whether any right knee disability shown during the appeal is as likely as not (50 percent or greater probability) etiologically related to service.

The Veteran's cervical spine disability is currently rated at 20 percent, and the Board finds that this rating adequately reflects the severity of his condition.

The Veteran's appeals for service connection for traumatic brain injury and a sleep disorder were withdrawn. The Board granted higher ratings for right and left knee disabilities, including scars.,Headaches prior to June 20, 2014 are rated at 30 percent.

The Veteran's prostate cancer is granted service connection due to exposure to contaminated water at Camp Lejeune during his military service.,Service connection for the adrenal mass has been reopened based on new evidence, but its direct relationship to service remains unclear.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded due to his failure to appear for a scheduled BVA videoconference hearing. The case will be rescheduled at the Veteran's current address.

The Board has remanded the case due to incomplete service treatment records and the need for additional medical examinations. The Veteran's claims for left ear hearing loss, left shoulder disability, back disability, neck disability, and neurological spine disability are being reviewed.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development due to an inadequate VA examination in May 2011. The Veteran's lumbar spine disability is being reviewed again.

The Veteran's claim for a TDIU due to service-connected disabilities has been denied as his combined disability rating is not high enough to meet the schedular criteria, and there is no evidence that he is unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation.

The Veteran's service-connected DJD of the lumbar spine was found to not meet criteria for a higher rating prior to December 16, 2013 and from that date onwards. The disability did not warrant an increased rating.

The Board has reopened the Veteran's previously denied claim of service connection for a lumbar spine disability and found that new evidence supports this reopening. However, the claims for service connection for bilateral eye condition, right arm/elbow disability, left elbow disability, left hand disability, right knee disability, and left knee disability have not been substantiated.

The Veteran's low back strain prior to December 17, 2012 did not meet the criteria for a disability rating higher than 10 percent as her range of motion was greater than 120 degrees and she did not have muscle spasm or guarding resulting in abnormal gait or contour.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's claimed spinal, knee, foot, respiratory and skin disorders are not related to his active duty service or toxic herbicide exposure. The evidence does not show a current diagnosis of any of these conditions.

The Board has ordered the VA to obtain worker's compensation records from New Jersey, and if these records are unavailable or cannot be obtained, notify the Veteran. The case will then be remanded for further action.

The Veteran's cervical spine and thoracolumbar spine disabilities have not met the criteria for a rating in excess of 20 percent under VA regulations.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for a new VA examination to determine the current severity of his service-connected degenerative disc disease, lumbar spine postoperative laminotomy with scar, and bilateral lower extremity radiculopathies. Additional treatment records must be obtained.

The Veteran's low back disability, including degenerative disc/joint disease and spinal canal stenosis, is related to service. He also has other service-connected disabilities that prevent him from securing or following substantially gainful employment.,Service connection for the low back disability was established based on continuity of symptomatology since service.

The Veteran's bilateral knee and hip disorders are related to his service-connected degenerative disc disease of the lumbar spine, which is granted as secondary.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining medical opinions regarding the etiology of his claimed left shoulder, low back, left knee, and left hip disorders. The VA examiner will need to determine if these conditions are related to military service or an undiagnosed illness.

The Veteran's appeal for service connection for radiculopathy of the lower extremities has been withdrawn by the appellant, resulting in dismissal of the case.

The Veteran's claim for service connection of a low back disability has been reopened. The effective date for the award of service connection for left foot pes planus is denied as there was no formal or informal claim submitted within one year of the implicit denial in June 2003.