Back / lumbar spine Board decisions

The Veteran's appeal has been withdrawn, and the cases for service connection for psychiatric disability, lumbosacral spine disability, and cervical spine disability are dismissed.

The Veteran seeks service connection for a right ankle disorder and a back disability, which he contends is secondary to his right ankle disorder. The Board finds that further development is needed before these claims can be decided.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for further development, including a new VA examination to assess the severity of his service-connected back and neck disabilities.

The Veteran's appeal has been withdrawn, effectively dismissing the case.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded due to his failure to appear for a Travel Board hearing scheduled in February 2015. The case will be returned to the AOJ for scheduling another hearing.

The Veteran's lumbar spine disorder was found to not meet the criteria for a higher evaluation prior to February 28, 2011. From February 28, 2011, he is in receipt of a 40 percent rating.

The Board found that the Veteran's back condition is service-connected, but denied reopening of his heart condition claim due to lack of new and material evidence.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's current bilateral knee and low back disabilities are related to his military service, resolving all doubts in favor of the Veteran.

The Board has reopened the claim for service connection of a low back disorder and granted service connection. The Veteran's current low back disability is found to be related to his active duty service.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded for a comprehensive VA internal medicine examination to determine the combined effect of his service-connected disabilities on his ability to work.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims of service connection for right knee and hip disabilities, finding no new and material evidence to reopen his previously denied claim. The effective date for service connection for PTSD was also not granted.

The Board found that the Veteran's low back disability and bilateral leg disability are not related to service, while his skin disability (claimed as cellulitis of the groin) is presumed due to herbicide exposure. The claim for PTSD was granted with an effective date of February 27, 2008.

The Veteran's claim for an increased rating for his service-connected back disability is denied as the examiner did not provide a clear assessment of the severity and functional impact of his condition.

The Veteran's lumbar spine disability is rated at 40 percent, effective from the date of claim. The Board has granted a separate 20 percent rating for radiculopathy of the right lower extremity and a separate 20 percent rating for radiculopathy of the left lower extremity since May 16, 2012. A 50 percent rating is granted for the lumbar spine disability effective from November 3, 2014. The Veteran's chronic bronchitis has not been service-connected.

The Board denied service connection for a low back disability in June 2008. The Veteran's claim is not reopened because the new evidence does not relate to an unestablished fact or raise a reasonable possibility of substantiating his claim.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including obtaining updated VA treatment records and scheduling a VA examination to determine the etiology of any low back disability found to be present.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for low back, right knee, and right wrist conditions to the AOJ for further development. The Veteran is scheduled for a videoconference hearing before the Board.

The Board found that the Veteran's currently diagnosed thoracolumbar scoliosis is related to the inservice diagnosis of lumbar scoliosis but not due to any aggravation during service. The examiner concluded that the current condition, including degenerative changes and stenosis, is a congenital defect with no evidence of aggravation by service.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities did not preclude him from securing or following substantially gainful employment prior to August 12, 2003.

The Board has remanded the case for further development, including obtaining a medical opinion regarding the etiology of the Veteran's current back disability. The claim will be readjudicated based on all evidence.