Back / lumbar spine Board decisions

The Veteran's appeal includes claims for higher initial ratings for his service-connected low back disability and peripheral neuropathy, as well as a claim for TDIU. The case is being remanded to obtain additional medical examinations and opinions, and to submit the evidence to the Director of Compensation and Pension Service for extraschedular consideration of TDIU.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings are being remanded to allow for additional development, including scheduling a VA examination and providing the Veteran with another opportunity for a videoconference hearing.

The Veteran's claims for higher initial ratings for his lumbar spondylolisthesis and scar are being remanded due to the need for additional examinations and consideration of new evidence.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining updated VA and private treatment records, scheduling the Veteran for VA examinations to assess his PTSD and low back disability, and readjudicating the claims.

The Veteran's low back disability is being remanded for further examination and opinion to determine if it is caused or aggravated by his service-connected knee disabilities.

The Board has decided to remand the case for further development, including obtaining service treatment records and a VA examination.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded to obtain medical opinions regarding the origins of his left leg disorder and to schedule a VA examination for his low back disability. The claims are also being remanded due to allegations that his service-connected low back disability has worsened.

The Veteran's low back disability has been rated at 40 percent since February 17, 2006. He is also entitled to a separate 10 percent evaluation for right-sided mild incomplete paralysis of the sciatic nerve and left-sided mild incomplete paralysis of the sciatic nerve.

The Board granted an effective date of October 4, 2001 for the increased rating of 60 percent for residuals of a lumbar spine injury to include DDD.

The Veteran's service connection claim for a back disorder remains pending and is not addressed in this decision.,His initial ratings for chronic cystitis have been granted, with effective dates ranging from September 15, 1999 to December 22, 2011. The current rating of 30 percent applies since December 22, 2011.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for DDD and DJD of the lumbar spine have been denied as his disability has not met or approximated the criteria for a higher rating at any time during the appeal period.

The Board found that the Veteran's current low back disorder is not service-connected as it did not manifest during her period of active duty or within one year thereafter, and there was no evidence linking it to a service-connected condition. The examiner concluded that the low back disorder is more likely caused by fibromyalgia with IBS.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including obtaining VA treatment records and providing a VA examination to determine the nature and etiology of any current acquired psychiatric disability or symptoms.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for a total disability rating based upon individual unemployability (TDIU) due to her service-connected lumbosacral strain and sciatica.

The Board has granted a 40 percent rating for the appellant's post-operative degenerative disc disease of the thoracolumbar spine, effective April 15, 2013.

The Veteran's service-connected degenerative changes of the lumbar spine and associated left leg radiculopathy have rendered him unable to secure and follow a substantially gainful occupation, warranting a TDIU rating effective September 25, 2006.

The Board finds that service connection is granted for Crohn's disease, bilateral knee disabilities, and low back disability. The effective date of the grant will be determined based on the evidence provided.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for a new VA examination to assess the severity of his service-connected back strain with degenerative disc disease, and for additional development of medical records.

The Board has reopened the Veteran's claims for service connection for low back disorder and bilateral eye disorder, finding new and material evidence. Service connection is granted for the knee disabilities as secondary to the service-connected right and left knee conditions. The rating for the bilateral eye disorder remains unchanged.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for a Travel Board hearing due to his inability to attend the previously scheduled hearing.