Back / lumbar spine Board decisions

The Veteran's service-connected right upper extremity paresthesias, median nerve disability of the right upper extremity, and ulnar nerve disability of the right upper extremity have been granted. The Veteran is also entitled to separate ratings for radiculopathy of the left and right lower extremities associated with thoracic spine osteoarthritis.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's current low back condition is at least as likely as not related to his active duty service, resolving all doubts in favor of the Veteran.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's low back disability is not related to his military service and is not caused or aggravated by his service-connected right and left knee disabilities.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection and initial disability rating in excess of 10 percent for his cervical spine disability, finding that the evidence did not support a higher rating based on the severity of his symptoms.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's current lumbar spine disability is service connected, as it resulted from an injury in service. The psychiatric disabilities and hypertension are also found to be related to service.

The Board granted service connection for low back arthritis due to in-service herbicide exposure. However, the gastrointestinal disorders were not found to be related to service or herbicide exposure.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's right knee, bilateral hip, and low back disabilities are not service-connected as they did not manifest during or due to active military service.

The Board found that the Veteran's cervical spine disability was not caused by or aggravated by his service-connected lumbar spine disability, and thus denied both claims.

The Veteran's lumbosacral spine disability is currently rated at 20 percent, and the evidence does not support a higher rating based on current functional impairment or additional limitation of motion.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded to schedule him for a videoconference hearing due to his failure to appear at the scheduled date. The case will be returned to the Board after the hearing.

The Veteran withdrew his appeal for service connection of a back condition before the Board could make a decision.

The Veteran's service-connected lumbosacral strain with disc bulges is currently rated at 10 percent, the maximum schedular rating available under Diagnostic Code 5243. The evidence does not support a higher rating as there is no limitation of motion or other functional loss that would warrant such an increase.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient examination and opinion regarding the etiology of the Veteran's lumbar spine disorder, which may be related to service or a work injury. The Veteran will need to undergo another VA examination.

The Veteran's lumbar degenerative disc disease was rated at 20 percent from June 3, 2008, to February 14, 2013.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including obtaining treatment records and providing a VA examination to determine if the Veteran's lumbar spine disability is related to service.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including a VA social and industrial survey to assess his employability due to service-connected disabilities.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional examinations and development of his claims, including a review of VA treatment records and an assessment of the current severity of his right wrist and shoulder strains.

The Veteran's claim for service connection of a low back disorder is being remanded due to the need for additional medical examination and consideration of all evidence.

The Board has remanded the case due to incomplete development and need for additional medical opinions.

The Board has determined that the VA examination and opinion provided in October 2014 are inadequate for adjudication purposes, due to factual inaccuracies. The Veteran's service as an artillery loader is not addressed by the examiner.