Back / lumbar spine Board decisions

The Board is remanding the Veteran's claims for additional development and consideration, including to verify his alleged stressors related to PTSD. The claims will be readjudicated in light of all additional evidence.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including VA examinations to assess the severity of her service-connected disabilities and determine if she is unemployable due to those conditions.

The Board has determined that further development is needed to obtain service treatment records and VA medical records, as well as to provide the Veteran with a VA examination to determine the nature and etiology of her claimed conditions.

The Veteran's low back strain with narrowing of L5-S1 disc space is currently rated at 10 percent, but the evidence does not support a higher rating as his disability does not meet or approximate the criteria for any higher rating under VA regulations.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for increased ratings and service connection, finding no compensable hearing loss or significant impairment from his diagnosed conditions. The Veteran's appeals were dismissed due to withdrawal of his appeal regarding the left hand rating.

The Veteran withdrew his appeal for service connection of a back disorder.

The Board has granted service connection for neck and back disorders, finding that the Veteran's current conditions are at least as likely as not due to injuries sustained during a helicopter crash in Vietnam. The claims were reopened based on new evidence related to an injury in service.

The Board has determined that additional development is needed to address the Veteran's claims, including providing VCAA notice and obtaining medical opinions regarding service connection for various conditions.

The Board found that the Veteran's current low back disability was not incurred in or aggravated by his active military service and denied his claim for service connection.

The Board denied the Veteran's petitions to reopen his claims of service connection for a back disability, an acquired psychiatric disorder, myopia, and optic nerve situs inversus. The evidence received since the November 2009 decision was not new or material enough to support reopening any of these claims.

The Veteran's low back disorder is being remanded for further development, including obtaining VA treatment records and scheduling a VA examination to determine the nature and etiology of his current condition.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including a VA examination to clarify the presence of radiculopathy and assess his employment capacity.

The Veteran's claim for reimbursement of medical expenses incurred at a non-VA facility on April 23, 2012 was denied as the treatment did not meet the criteria for emergency treatment.

The Board has granted service connection for cervical and lumbar degenerative joint disease, finding that the Veteran's current disabilities are related to in-service injuries and continuous symptoms since service.

The Veteran's lumbar spine disability has been rated as 20 percent since July 8, 2013 and the Board finds that a higher rating of 40 percent is warranted for this period.,For the initial rating period from October 1, 2008 to July 8, 2013, the Veteran's tendonitis of the right forearm and elbow has been rated as noncompensable. The Board finds that a compensable disability rating is not warranted.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including a new VA examination to assess the severity of his back disability and consideration of his TDIU claim.

The Board has reopened the claim of entitlement to service connection for a low back disability, but it is remanding the case for further development and an opinion regarding the etiology of the Veteran's current low back condition.

The Veteran's unauthorized emergency treatment for severe low back pain and leg symptoms on February 1, 2011 is approved as meeting the criteria for reimbursement.

The Veteran's back condition was rated at 20 percent prior to December 2009 and increased to 40 percent effective December 2009. The Veteran is seeking a higher rating for his service-connected degenerative disc and joint disease of the lumbar spine.,The Veteran's right leg numbness was initially rated at 10 percent in May 3, 2005, and increased to 40 percent effective December 2009. The Veteran is seeking a higher rating for his service-connected radiculopathy of the right lower extremity (right leg numbness).

The Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hip disability and back disability were denied as there was no evidence of a current condition related to his active service. The claim for service connection for psychiatric disability, specifically PTSD, is pending.