Back / lumbar spine Board decisions

The Board has remanded the case due to a lack of an opinion regarding whether the Veteran's service-connected bilateral knee disabilities caused or aggravated his low back disability. The claim is now pending for further development.

The Board has decided to remand the case for additional development, including obtaining private treatment records and determining whether an examination is required. The Veteran's claims will be reconsidered after this additional development.

The Veteran seeks service connection for a back condition, which he claims is secondary to his service-connected right tibia and fibula fracture with severe loss of motion in the ankle. The case has been remanded due to insufficient medical opinion regarding whether the low back disorder is caused by or aggravated by the service-connected ankle disability.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's low back disability is service-connected, resolving reasonable doubt in his favor.

The Board denied service connection for a chronic low back disorder and an acquired psychiatric disorder (depression) as the evidence did not establish that these conditions were incurred in or aggravated by service.

The Veteran's bilateral lateral femoral cutaneous neuropathy is found to be secondary to his service-connected lumbar disc disease. The claim for service connection for bilateral lateral femoral cutaneous neuropathy has been granted.

The Veteran's combined disability rating is 50 percent, which does not meet the percentage requirements for schedular TDIU. The Board finds no persuasive evidence suggesting that the Veteran is unemployable due to his service-connected disabilities or that his case is outside the norm.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development due to incomplete records from private physicians. The Veteran's claims will be re-adjudicated after these records are obtained.

The Veteran's lumbosacral strain with spondylosis and ankylosing spondylitis is currently rated at 40 percent, which is the maximum schedular rating available under the General Rating Formula for Diseases and Injuries of the Spine. The claim for a higher rating is denied.

The Board has remanded the case due to inadequate examination and needs further development before a final decision can be made on the service connection claim for an upper back disability.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's current left knee and low back disorders are not related to service, and thus denied his claims for service connection.

The Board has ordered additional development of the record to determine the likely etiology of the Veteran's current spine disability, including as due to exposure to radiation and/or back injury therein. The case is being remanded for further review after this development.

The Board has remanded the case for further development, including obtaining additional medical records and arranging a VA examination to assess the Veteran's service-connected disabilities and their impact on his ability to work. The TDIU claim will be reconsidered based on the new evidence.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded due to the need for additional development, including a new examination and opinion regarding his low back disability. The issues of service connection for an additional low back disability are also inextricably intertwined with the increased rating claim.

The Board found no evidence linking the appellant's current right ankle and low back disabilities to his service, thus denying both claims.

The Board has determined that further development is necessary before the claims for service connection for tinnitus and lower back condition, degenerative joint disease can be decided.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for degenerative disc disease of the cervical spine has been reopened and is now pending. The VA will conduct further examination to determine if his current shoulder, bilateral leg, and right wrist disabilities are related to his cervical spine disability.

The Veteran's lumbar strain and associated left leg radiculopathy have not been shown to warrant a higher initial rating under the applicable VA rating criteria.

The Veteran's traumatic thoracolumbar spine disease resulted in chronic pain, weakness, stiffness, tenderness, spasm, and decreased range of motion, leading to incapacitating episodes requiring bed rest. The Board found that the criteria for an initial disability rating of 40 percent have been met.

The Veteran's claim for an initial rating higher than 10 percent for his service-connected lumbar degenerative disc disease with lumbar facet syndrome is being remanded due to the need for a new VA examination.