Back / lumbar spine Board decisions

The Veteran's appeal has been withdrawn due to his request for withdrawal of the issues currently pending on appeal.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded due to the unavailability of his service treatment records and a need for further examination. The issues include service connection for various musculoskeletal conditions.

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

The Board has determined that the Veteran's osteoarthritis of bilateral sacroiliac joints is caused by or aggravated by his service-connected lumbar back strain with degenerative disc disease and arthritis, and thus grants the claim for service connection.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development to obtain missing service treatment records and private medical records, as well as a VA examination.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not render him unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation. The Board finds that the Veteran is currently employed as an LPN and able to perform his duties despite some industrial impairment.

The Board has determined that there is no current evidence of a bilateral hip disability, and the Veteran's lumbar spine disability is not related to his service-connected right ankle disability. The claim for left lower extremity peripheral neuropathy is addressed in a separate issue.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining medical records and scheduling a VA examination to assess the severity of his service-connected low back disability. A social and industrial survey will also be conducted to determine if he can secure and maintain substantially gainful employment due to his disabilities.

The Veteran's claims for increased evaluations of her service-connected scoliosis of the lumbosacral spine, right hip strain, left hip strain, and left knee strain are being remanded due to the need for additional development.

The Veteran's lumbar strain has not been productive of symptomatology to warrant a compensable rating prior to October 18, 2014, and it has not been more than 10 percent disabling at any time on or after October 18, 2014.

The Board has remanded all issues for further development due to the Veteran's request for a videoconference hearing.

The Veteran's chronic lumbar strain has resulted in flexion to less than 30 degrees and seeking treatment at least twice per week. The Board finds a 40 percent rating is warranted based on the Veteran's functional limitations.

The Veteran's claims for service connection are being remanded to obtain additional medical records and to provide the requested VA examinations. The issues include secondary service connection for various disabilities.

The Veteran's lumbar spine disability was rated at 20 percent effective May 23, 2014. He is now rated for radiculopathy of the left lower extremity and right lower extremity.

The Veteran's service-connected lumbar spine disability does not render her unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation, and she is therefore denied entitlement to TDIU. The case is also remanded for consideration of SMC for aid and attendance.

The Board has denied the appellant's claim for service connection for PTSD due to a lack of current diagnosis and no evidence linking his claimed stressors to his current symptoms. The claims for bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, and lumbar spine disorder are also pending.

The Board has reopened the Veteran's claims for service connection for a seizure disorder and a back disorder, but denied both on the merits.

The Veteran's appeal for increased ratings for his lumbosacral strain and service connection for a cervical spine condition were denied. His claim to reopen his psychiatric disorder was also denied due to lack of new and material evidence.

The Veteran's back disability is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining recent VA treatment records and scheduling examinations to assess the current severity of his service-connected lumbar disc disease.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining private treatment records and providing the Veteran with VA examinations to assess her service-connected disabilities.