Back / lumbar spine Board decisions

The Veteran's lumbar spine disability has been rated at 40 percent disabling, and the Board found that this rating is appropriate based on his current range of motion and symptoms.

The Board has granted service connection for left hip radiculopathy and low back degenerative disc disease as secondary to the Veteran's service-connected bilateral knee disabilities.

The Board has decided to remand the case for further development, including obtaining medical records and scheduling a VA examination.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded to obtain a VA opinion regarding the relationship between his current low back disorder and his period of active service. The claims for secondary service connection will also be readjudicated following completion of this development.

The Veteran's claim for higher initial evaluation and earlier effective date for a service-connected low back disability was denied. The Veteran is currently in receipt of a 60 percent disability rating for the condition, effective October 17, 2007.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's current low back disability, diagnosed as lumbar degenerative disc disease, is etiologically related to a fall incurred during his period of ACDUTRA in August 1963. Therefore, service connection for this condition is granted.

The Board is remanding the claims for service connection due to inadequate examination and consideration of the Veteran's reported symptoms in-service. The case will be returned for a new VA examination.

The Board has ordered a VA examination to determine if the Veteran's service-connected disabilities prevent him from securing and following substantially gainful employment. The case is being remanded for this purpose.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's degenerative disc disease of the lumbar spine, with spondylosis, is related to his active service and grants service connection for this condition.

The Board has reopened the Veteran's claim for service connection of low back, right ankle, left hip degenerative joint disease, and right hip degenerative joint disease. The new evidence shows that these conditions are likely due to his service-connected hammertoe condition with hallux valgus.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining medical records and scheduling VA examinations to assess the severity of his service-connected disabilities.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including a new VA examination and medical opinion. The Veteran's claims of service connection for low back and right knee disabilities are pending.

The Veteran's lumbosacral strain with arthritis and degenerative disc disease was rated at 20 percent prior to July 12, 2012, and remains at that rating thereafter. The Board also granted a TDIU based on the combined service-connected disabilities.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's right ankle disability is related to his service, while his back disability is not. The claim for a back disability is denied.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded to obtain additional medical records and provide him with a new VA examination to assess his bilateral shoulder disorder and lumbar spine disability.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for his low back and leg disability, as well as his bilateral foot disability, were denied. The Board found that the evidence did not meet the criteria for a higher evaluation under applicable rating criteria.

The Veteran's claims for increased evaluations and TDIU were granted, but the specific ratings assigned are not provided in this decision.

The Board has determined that new and material evidence has not been received to reopen the Veteran's claim for service connection for a back disorder. The evidence submitted does not relate to an unestablished fact necessary to substantiate the claim.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development to obtain medical records and provide adequate VA opinions regarding the nature and etiology of his thoracic spine scoliosis and lumbar spine disorder.

The Veteran's right and left knee disabilities, as well as his back and neck disabilities, are related to his service. The Board has granted the claims for these conditions.