Back / lumbar spine Board decisions

The Veteran's service-connected multilevel degenerative disc and joint disease of the thoracic and lumbar spine is being remanded for a new VA examination to assess its current severity. The RO must also obtain any relevant private treatment records identified by the Veteran.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for left carpal tunnel syndrome, skin rashes (claimed as herbicide exposure), and degenerative disc disease lumbar spine. The Veteran's claim for PTSD was granted with a 10% evaluation.

The Board has decided to remand the case for additional development due to insufficient rationale in a previous VA opinion and confusion regarding when the Veteran's low back pain started.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded due to the need for additional development, including obtaining VA treatment records and scheduling a VA examination. The TDIU claim will also be addressed.

The Board has determined that new and material evidence has been presented to reopen the claims of service connection for right knee, low back, and asthma disabilities. The case is being remanded for further development including obtaining SSA records, translating French medical records, and scheduling a VA examination.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded due to a scheduling issue for his requested Board video-conference hearing. His claims for service connection remain pending.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for further development, including obtaining VA treatment records and scheduling a VA examination to assess the severity of his lower back condition. The issue of service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder has also been raised.

The Board has granted service connection for neck strain, lumbar spine strain, PTSD, and bilateral vision loss. Service connection was denied for diabetes mellitus, type II, heart condition, and depressive disorder with alcohol dependence secondary to residuals of left bronchogenic cyst.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's hypertension and lumbosacral strain are not service-connected, but his lumbosacral strain disability is currently rated at 20 percent.

The Board has ordered additional development due to the need for VA records and an addendum opinion regarding the etiology of the Veteran's bilateral knee and low back disabilities.

The Board has dismissed the appeals for service connection as the appellant died during the pendency of the appeal.

The Board found that the Veteran's current cervical spine and back disabilities were not incurred in service, and denied his claims for service connection.

The Veteran's claim for increased ratings and TDIU was granted. For the period prior to June 10, 2010, lumbosacral strain with degenerative disease with L4-L5 disc protrusion and radiculopathy was rated as 10 percent disabling; from June 10, 2010, it is rated as 40 percent disabling.

The Board found that the Veteran's cervical and lumbar spine disorders are not related to his active service, as there is no evidence of a nexus between his current disabilities and his in-service injury. The VA examiners' opinions were considered more credible than Dr. K.'s opinion.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for CMI was denied at the time of his death, and thus is not granted.,New evidence has been submitted to reopen the low back disability claim. Given this new evidence, the Board finds that there is sufficient information to grant service connection for a chronic low back disability.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development due to insufficient information regarding the etiology of any current back disorder. The Veteran's claim will be readjudicated after the additional development is completed.

The Board found that the Veteran's low back disability was not incurred or aggravated by service and is unrelated to his military service. The preponderance of evidence does not support a finding of service connection.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities render him unable to secure and follow substantially gainful employment effective June 26, 2009. The Board has granted a TDIU rating for this period.

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

The Veteran's low back disability is currently rated at 40 percent, effective May 14, 2012. The rating reflects the severity of his symptoms and functional impairment.