Back / lumbar spine Board decisions

The Board has determined that the VA examination is inadequate and remands for a new evaluation of the appellant's service-connected low back strain with degenerative joint disease of the lumbar spine. The issue of entitlement to TDIU has also been raised by the record and must be adjudicated.

The Veteran has been diagnosed with degenerative disc disease and degenerative joint disease of the lumbar spine, which is attributable to his active service. The Board grants service connection for a lumbar spine disability.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded to obtain additional medical records and for a VA examination. The issues of entitlement to an initial evaluation in excess of 50 percent for PTSD, and service connection for a back disability are pending.

The Board is remanding the case for additional development to obtain updated medical records and provide an opinion regarding whether the Veteran's current low back disability is related to service or his service-connected left knee disability.

The Veteran's appeal has been withdrawn prior to the Board making a decision.

The Board finds that the Veteran's currently diagnosed low back disorder did not have its clinical onset in active service and is not causally related to active service.

The Veteran's claim for an increased rating for migraine headaches has been granted, with a current evaluation of 50 percent.

The Veteran is seeking service connection for a low back disorder, which he contends is related to his service-connected right knee and left ankle disabilities. The Board has determined that additional development is needed before the case can be decided.

The Board denied the Veteran's appeal for higher initial ratings for his lumbar intervertebral disk syndrome and irritable bowel syndrome, finding that the evidence did not support a rating in excess of 20 percent for the lumbar disability or a rating in excess of 10 percent for the gastrointestinal disorder.

The Board finds that the Veteran's current low back disability is at least as likely as not a result of his active service, and grants service connection for this condition.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded to obtain additional medical evidence and for a VA examination. The issues of increased rating for his service-connected lumbar strain with spondylosis, spondylolisthesis, and intervertebral disc syndrome, as well as TDIU due to service-connected disability are also being addressed.

The Board has determined that additional medical opinions are needed to address the nature and etiology of the Veteran's low back disability, as well as his current bilateral hearing loss. The claims will be remanded for these purposes.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded due to the need for additional evidence and a more current VA examination.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for his low back and right shoulder disabilities were denied. The Board found that the evidence did not support a higher rating than the current assigned ratings.

The Board found that the Veteran's back and neck disorders did not have their clinical onset during service, arthritis of the lumbar spine was not diagnosed within the first post-service year, and a back or neck disability is not otherwise related to active service.

The Board has remanded the claims for further development due to inadequate medical opinions and missing records. The Veteran's service connection claims are now before the Board again.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded to determine if his IBS is secondary to his service-connected disabilities, and for a new VA examination to assess the severity of his thoracic and lumbar spine disabilities.

The Board found that the Veteran's current low back disorder is not related to her active duty service and denied her claim for service connection.

The Veteran's claims for higher ratings for degenerative arthritis of the lumbar spine and osteochondritis of the left fifth metacarpal with Dupuytren's Contracture were denied as his conditions did not meet the criteria for a higher evaluation under VA rating schedule.

The Board has determined that the submitted evidence is not new and material, thus denying the Veteran's claim to reopen for a low back disability.