Back / lumbar spine Board decisions

The Veteran is seeking service connection for degenerative disc disease of the lumbar spine and associated numbness of the legs. The Board has determined that a remand is necessary to obtain updated VA treatment records, conduct a VA examination, and determine if there is a relationship between the Veteran's current conditions and his military service.

The Board has denied the reopening of claims for service connection for various conditions, including back disability, hypertension, eye condition, diabetes mellitus, stroke, heart condition, and high cholesterol. The appeals were withdrawn before a decision was made.

The Veteran's service-connected lumbar spine disability is being remanded for further evaluation and additional medical records to determine the current severity of his condition.

The Board found no evidence of a chronic low back disorder during service and denied the Veteran's claim for service connection.

The case is being remanded to the RO for additional development, including obtaining outstanding medical records and scheduling a VA examination. The Veteran's claim for service connection for his low back disorder will be reconsidered based on the new evidence.

The Board has granted a rating of 20 percent for the Veteran's service-connected back disability, effective June 19, 2002. The claim for increased disability rating is granted. Service connection for left lower extremity neurological impairment is granted as it is proximately due to or a result of the service-connected back disability. However, there is no current evidence of a separate service-connected left knee disability.

The Veteran seeks service connection for a back disability, which he claims developed as a result of injuries sustained during active duty. The Board finds that an examination and opinion are needed to determine if the current back disability is related to his military service.

The Board found that the proposed reductions in ratings for lumbar spine and left lower extremity disabilities were not warranted due to inadequate findings of improvement from the October 2009 VA examination.

The Board has remanded the case for further development, including obtaining medical records and a VA examination to determine the nature and etiology of any spine disorder(s) that may be present.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's current left shoulder and back disabilities are not related to his active duty service.,VA examinations found no evidence of a pre-existing condition, and the examiner opined that any current disability is more likely due to post-service activities.

The Board has dismissed the appeal due to a failure to timely file a substantive appeal within the required time frame.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including VA examinations and the provision of notice regarding outstanding medical records.

The Board has ordered additional development to address the Veteran's claims for service connection for right hip, left hip, and low back disabilities. The case is being remanded for further examination and opinion regarding the etiology of these conditions.

The Board has ordered additional development due to the need for a VA addendum medical opinion regarding the Veteran's service connection claims, specifically addressing whether his pre-existing bilateral pes planus worsened in service and if his current knee and back disorders are related to his foot disorder.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient evidence regarding the Veteran's low back disability and its connection to his military service. The Veteran will need to provide additional medical records, including from chiropractors and physical therapists, and undergo a new examination.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's hip, low back, left knee, and left ankle disabilities are not service-connected as they did not manifest during active duty or are not related to his military service.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for additional development due to incomplete medical opinions and unaddressed VA treatment records.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for gout, hypertension, and a skin disability are denied. The claim for service connection for a left chest cyst is also denied. Service connection is granted for hypertension and a skin disability.

The Board granted service connection for residuals of a right finger or hand injury and found that the Veteran's low back disability is not related to his military service. The claim for service connection for a low back disability was denied as it was not shown to be caused by or aggravated by a service-connected condition.

The Veteran's low back disability is currently rated at 10 percent, the maximum schedular rating available for a lumbar spine disability with forward flexion of the thoracolumbar spine to 60 degrees or less. The evidence does not support an evaluation in excess of this.