Back / lumbar spine Board decisions

The Veteran's claim for service connection for a skin disability was reopened and granted. The Board found that new evidence related to Agent Orange exposure during Vietnam service may be associated with the current skin rash.,Service connection for sleep apnea, peripheral neuropathy, and low back disability were denied as there is no medical evidence of these conditions at any time since separation from service.

The Veteran's initial claim for a higher evaluation for his lumbar spine disability was granted, with the effective date set at the date of receipt of the claim. The current rating of 20 percent is maintained prior to December 11, 2013, and an increased rating to 40 percent is granted from that date.

The Veteran's headaches are rated at 30 percent since January 31, 2013. His low back disability is currently rated as 20 percent disabling but the Board denied a higher rating.

The Board has determined that new and material evidence has been received to reopen the claim for service connection for a low back disability. The case is REMANDED for further development, including obtaining an opinion regarding whether the Veteran's current disc disease with stenosis of the lumbosacral spine is related to his service-connected chronic lumbar strain.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for her service-connected lumbar spine, right knee, and left knee conditions are being remanded to allow for additional development of the evidence.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for his service-connected chronic thoracolumbar strain and residuals of second metacarpal fracture of the right hand are being remanded due to the need for additional examinations and development of medical records.

The Veteran's claim for an initial evaluation in excess of 20 percent for spondylolisthesis of the lumbar spine is being remanded due to a need to determine the current severity of his service-connected condition and obtain updated VA treatment records.

The Veteran's appeal for service connection for fibromyalgia has been withdrawn. The case is being remanded to obtain updated VA medical records, SSA disability determination records, and VA vocational rehabilitation records.

The Board has determined that the VA examination and opinion provided are inadequate for adjudicating the service connection claim. The Veteran's complaints of back pain were noted as early as November 1999, January, February, and April 2000, and there are treatment records noting intermittent back pain between April 2004 and December 2008.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's current lumbar spine disability is not related to his period of active duty service and therefore denied his claim for service connection.

The Veteran's claim for a separate compensable rating for right upper extremity neurological impairment was denied. The Board found that the evidence did not support a finding of mild or more severe neurological impairment related to his service-connected cervical spine disability. For TDIU, the Veteran's combined disability rating is 60%, which meets the criteria set forth in 38 C.F.R. § 4.16(a).

The Board has granted the Veteran's application to reopen his claim of service connection for a low back disorder, finding that new and material evidence has been submitted. The issue is now remanded for further development.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings have been denied as the evidence does not support a higher rating than the currently assigned evaluations.

The Veteran's combined disability evaluation was 60 percent prior to September 9, 2008. His service-connected disabilities did not arise from a common etiology and he did not meet the schedular criteria for TDIU during this period. As of September 9, 2008, his combined disability evaluation was 70 percent with at least one disability evaluated as 40 percent; his service-connected disabilities alone rendered him unable to obtain and retain substantially gainful employment.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's claimed conditions, including systemic degenerative joint disease and a back disability, are not related to service. The evidence does not show an in-service injury or disease resulting in current disabilities.

The Veteran's disability rating for post-operative herniated nucleus pulposus lumbar spine is denied as his functional impairment does not meet the criteria for a higher rating.

The Veteran's low back disorder, specifically myofascial lumbar syndrome, is found to have first manifested during service and the Board grants service connection for this condition.

The Veteran's TDIU claim is being remanded for referral to the Compensation and Pension Service for consideration of whether he meets the criteria for a TDIU based on unemployability due to service-connected disabilities.

The Veteran's back disability is found to be etiologically related to her active duty service, and the Board grants service connection for a back disability.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for his service-connected lumbar strain and left leg paresthesias disabilities are being remanded due to the need for additional development, including a new VA examination.