Back / lumbar spine Board decisions

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including a new VA examination to assess the severity of his service-connected back disability and determine its impact on his ability to work.

The Board has determined that additional medical opinions are needed to address the Veteran's claims for service connection for low back and right hand disorders, as well as a request for VA treatment records. The appeal is being remanded.

The Veteran's lumbar spine disability is currently rated at 40 percent, effective January 4, 2011. The claim for an increased rating prior to that date has been denied.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for a new hearing before a Veterans Law Judge at the local RO. The case will be returned to the Board after the hearing.

The Board has granted service connection for the Veteran's lumbar spine disabilities, finding that they are causally related to in-service motor vehicle accidents. The decision is based on direct service connection.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development due to inconsistencies in the Veteran's testimony regarding when his back pain began, and for obtaining a medical opinion on whether his current low back condition is related to an incident during active duty or aggravated by routine physical training tests.

The Veteran's low back disability is currently rated at 20 percent, but the evidence does not support a higher rating as there are no findings of ankylosis or incapacitating episodes that would warrant a higher rating.

The Veteran's appeal has been dismissed as the appellant withdrew their appeals prior to a decision being made.

The Veteran's thoracolumbar spine disability was rated at 20 percent since July 24, 2009. The Board found that the evidence supported a grant of TDIU benefits effective from October 3, 2013.

The Board has ordered a VA examination to determine if the Veteran's service-connected lumbar spine disability caused or aggravated his right knee DJD. The TDIU claim is inextricably intertwined with this service connection issue and must be remanded for further development.

The Board found that the Veteran's current back condition is not related to his active duty service and denied his claim for service connection.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for additional development, including scheduling a Travel Board hearing on his new and material evidence claim and obtaining VA examination opinions to address the etiology of his currently diagnosed obstructive sleep apnea and sinusitis.

The Veteran's claim for TDIU is being remanded due to the need for additional development, including a new VA examination addressing his functional impairment and its impact on employment.

The Veteran's service-connected residuals of lumbar surgery to include intervertebral disc syndrome and sciatic nerve paralysis have been rated at 20 percent since February 29, 2012. The appeal for a higher rating is denied as the evidence does not support an increase in disability ratings.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's lumbar spine DDD with hyperlordosis, scoliosis, and retrolisthesis is related to service. The skin disability and headaches are currently under consideration.

The Veteran's appeal has been withdrawn, and thus the case is dismissed.

The Veteran's lumbosacral spine and bilateral knee disabilities have been rated at the maximum allowable under VA regulations. The August 6, 2012 rating decision granted a 40 percent rating for lumbosacral spine degenerative disc disease and stenosis effective from that date.

The Veteran's service-connected lumbar spine disorder, including spondylolysis and degenerative disc disease, is granted. His bilateral hearing loss and right wrist/ring finger disabilities are not rated higher than the current levels.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for a back condition and left knee condition are being remanded due to the need for additional development, including obtaining medical records and providing the Veteran with an examination.

The Board found no evidence of a current disability for the claimed conditions and determined that service connection was not warranted based on direct service connection.