Back / lumbar spine Board decisions

The Board has ordered a remand to obtain additional medical records and clarify the need for new authorizations. The appeal will be reconsidered after these actions.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's lumbar spine disability and bilateral lower extremity radiculopathy are not service-connected, as they are not shown to be directly related to his military service or a service-connected condition. The VA opinions provided do not support a finding of secondary service connection.

The Board has determined that further development is needed for the issues of service connection for bilateral hearing loss, back disorder, and neck disorder. The case will be remanded to allow for additional examination and opinion.

The Board has remanded the case due to the need for updated VA treatment records and SSA disability benefits records. The Veteran's claims for increased ratings and a TDIU will be readjudicated after these records are obtained.

The Veteran's leg length discrepancy was not caused or aggravated by VA care, and the claimed disabilities are not service-connected.

The Board denied service connection for various conditions, including psychiatric disorders, diabetes mellitus, retinopathy, knee and back disorders, hypertension, genitourinary issues, skin conditions, arthritis, traumatic brain injury, fibromyalgia, Reiter's syndrome, autoimmune disorder, hand and elbow disorders, and kidney problems. The decision also denied a temporary total rating for convalescence purposes due to right thumb fracture.

The Board has reopened the claim for service connection for a back disability and granted a rating of 60 percent for right total knee replacement due to degenerative joint disease. The scar, status post right total knee replacement, is rated at 10 percent.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including an addendum VA examination and issuance of a statement of the case.

The Veteran seeks service connection for bilateral hip and low back disabilities, which he contends are related to his military service. The Board has determined that the evidence is insufficient to decide these claims and has therefore remanded them for further development.

The Veteran's service-connected lumbosacral spine disability and associated radiculopathy have been rated at the highest available rating of 20 percent since September 14, 2009. The Board finds that this rating is appropriate based on the evidence showing no more than moderate neurologic impairment throughout the appeal period.

The Board has found no evidence of an in-service incurrence or a nexus between the Veteran's current neck, left hand, low back, and right shoulder disabilities and his military service. As such, the claims for these conditions have been denied.

The Veteran's degenerative disc disease of the thoracolumbar spine was rated at 10 percent prior to October 25, 2013; increased to 20 percent from October 25, 2013 to January 15, 2015; and maintained at 10 percent thereafter.

The Veteran's lumbar spine disorder was service-connected on August 13, 2007. Effective dates for the left and right knee disorders were established in July 2009, while an effective date of July 23, 2012, was assigned for his psychiatric disorder.,The Veteran's lumbar spine disorder is presumed to have manifested during service.

The Board has determined that new and material evidence has been received to reopen the Veteran's claim of service connection for a back disability. Additionally, the Veteran is granted service connection for tinnitus. The issue of service connection for bilateral hearing loss remains pending.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including obtaining service records and scheduling VA examinations to determine if the veteran's current low back disability, bilateral hearing loss, and tinnitus are related to his military service.

The Veteran's service-connected degenerative arthritis of the thoracolumbar spine, left knee fracture with degenerative joint disease, and chronic left quadriceps muscle strain were all granted initial compensable evaluations.,Subsequent to these grants, the Veteran was awarded increased ratings for his service-connected disabilities.

The Board found that the Veteran's low back disorder clearly and unmistakably pre-existed service and was not aggravated by service, thus denying his claim for service connection.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including obtaining updated VA and private treatment records, arranging for a VA examination to assess whether the Veteran's low back disorder is caused or aggravated by his service-connected left ankle disability, and re-adjudicating the claim.

The Veteran's claim for a higher rating for lumbar spine degenerative disc disease was denied as his disability did not meet the criteria for a rating in excess of 20 percent.

The Board has vacated its May 2015 decision and remand due to the Veteran's death, and dismissed the appeal as moot.