Back / lumbar spine Board decisions

The Veteran's thoracolumbar spine disability, including degenerative arthritis, and sciatic neuropathy and/or lumbar radiculopathy of the right and left lower extremities are found to be related to his in-service injury. Service connection is granted for these conditions.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's cervical spine disorder is service-connected, but his lumbar spine disorder cannot be linked to his military service.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development due to incomplete records and need for new VA examinations.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded for additional development, including VA examinations to determine the current severity of his service-connected PTSD and whether any current nerve, prostate, left shoulder, back, hypertension, bilateral hand arthritis, or vision disability are related to service.

The Board has remanded the case due to incomplete records and requests for additional information from former employers, medical providers, and other sources. The Veteran's claim for TDIU remains pending.

The Veteran's claim for an earlier effective date for the grant of service connection for a low back condition was denied. The Board found that no CUE existed in the September 2000 rating decision, and thus, the effective date could not be prior to April 27, 2009.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's low back condition is not related to service, including as due to herbicide exposure. The claim for service connection is denied.

The Veteran's claims for an increased rating and TDIU are being remanded due to the need for additional development, including a VA examination.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded due to the need for a new VA examination and additional VA treatment records.

The Veteran's claims are being remanded due to the need for a videoconference hearing. The issues include increased ratings for cervical and lumbosacral conditions, service connection for degenerative lumbosacral spondylosis, and service connection for a right shoulder disability.

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

The Veteran's appeal is remanded due to the need for additional development, including obtaining VA treatment records and scheduling a VA examination.

The Veteran's back disability is currently rated at 20 percent, reflecting the presence of flexion greater than 30 degrees but not exceeding 60 degrees. The condition does not meet criteria for higher ratings due to ankylosis or incapacitating episodes.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's current back disability is related to his military service, and thus grants service connection for a back disability.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including degenerative disc disease of the lumbar spine and associated radiculopathy, have rendered him unemployable as of May 12, 2011. The Board finds that a TDIU is warranted based on the combined effect of his service-connected conditions.

The Board has remanded the case for further development, including clarifying the source of disability payments and obtaining records from that source. The Veteran's claim will be reconsidered based on all evidence.

The Board found that the Veteran's low back disability was not incurred or aggravated in service and may not be presumed to have been incurred or aggravated in service. The preponderance of evidence does not support a finding that his current condition is related to military service.

The Board has remanded the case due to inadequate reasons and bases for finding that the VA's duty to provide a medical examination was not triggered. The Veteran must be provided with a VA examination to address the etiology of his left hip and lower back disabilities.

The Veteran's lumbar spine disability is found to be aggravated by his service-connected left knee disability. The Board also granted an increased rating of 20% for the left knee disability effective March 25, 2014.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for his left and right ankle disabilities, as well as his lumbar spine disability, were denied. The Board found that the evidence did not meet the criteria for a rating in excess of 10 percent for any of these conditions.