Back / lumbar spine Board decisions

The Veteran's appeal was dismissed as he withdrew his request for a rating in excess of 20 percent for left shoulder myositis prior to the Board making a decision.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings of his back disability, right lower extremity radiculopathy, left lower extremity radiculopathy, and major depression have been granted. The claim for service connection on the merits has also been reopened.

The Board has determined that additional development is necessary before a decision can be made on the Veteran's claims for service connection for low back and bilateral knee disabilities. The case is therefore REMANDED to schedule the Veteran for a DRO hearing, obtain German medical records, and provide him with an additional VA examination.

The Board has granted service connection for a back disability and a headache, finding that these conditions are secondary to the Veteran's hemorrhoids. The rating assigned is 10%.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including a new VA examination and obtaining relevant medical records.

The Veteran's appeal for service connection for urinary incontinence has been withdrawn. The remaining issues of increased ratings and TDIU have been remanded.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for a neurologic disability manifested by vision problems and a back disability is being remanded due to the need for additional medical examinations. The appeal will be reconsidered after these examinations are completed.

The Board granted service connection for sarcoidosis and assigned a noncompensable rating effective August 5, 2008. The Veteran's multiple joint and muscle arthralgias are rated as part of the sarcoidosis with an initial compensable rating.

The Veteran's claim for an increased rating for his degenerative disc disease of the lumbar spine is being remanded due to inadequate examination and lack of consideration of relevant criteria.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for back disorder, left carpal tunnel syndrome, and right carpal tunnel syndrome are being remanded due to the inadequacy of previous VA examinations.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's low back and right leg/knee disabilities are not service-connected as they did not manifest during his period of honorable service or within a presumptive period. The current conditions are also not shown to be related to his period of honorable service.

The Veteran's musculoskeletal low back pain was not manifested by forward flexion of the thoracolumbar spine limited to 60 degrees or less, a combined limitation of motion of the thoracolumbar spine limited to 120 degrees or less, muscle spasms or guarding severe enough to result in an abnormal gait or spinal contour such as scoliosis, reversed lordosis, or abnormal kyphosis, or symptomatology resulting in incapacitating episodes having a total duration of at least two weeks but less than four weeks during a 12-month period. As a result, the Veteran's claim for an increased rating was denied.

The Board denied service connection for a back disability, hearing loss, and tinnitus as the evidence did not establish a nexus to service. The Veteran's current conditions are attributed to post-service noise exposure and age-related presbycusis.

The Board has reopened the previously denied claims for service connection for low back and neck disabilities, but remanded the underlying claims to the RO for additional development due to outstanding VA treatment records and need for a VA examination.

The Veteran's claim of entitlement to an increased rating for his low back disability is being remanded due to the need for a new VA examination and consideration of additional evidence.

The Veteran's cervical and lumbar spine disabilities are each rated at 10 percent, the maximum rating available under the General Rating Formula for Diseases and Injuries of the Spine.

The Veteran seeks service connection for left shoulder, neck, and low back disabilities. The case is being remanded to obtain additional VA medical records from the period of August 1975 to August 1999 and to provide addendums to the previous examination opinions.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including coronary artery disease, various diagnosed psychiatric disorder, lumbar spine osteoarthritis, right thigh compressive neuropathy, tinnitus, and bilateral hearing loss, preclude him from securing or following a substantially gainful occupation.

The Veteran's migraines are found to be secondary to his service-connected cervical degenerative disc disease, and the claim for service connection is granted.

The Board has ordered the Veteran to be examined for his claimed disabilities and to provide additional evidence. The appeal is being remanded due to the Veteran's failure to report for a scheduled examination.