Back / lumbar spine Board decisions

The Board has remanded the case to obtain clarification of the degrees of range of motion lost due to pain during flare-ups and repetitive motion, as well as a new examination if necessary. The Veteran's cervical spine and low back disabilities will be reviewed for increased disability ratings.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's current low back disorder is related to his military service, including his in-service diagnosis of palindromic rheumatism.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient medical opinions regarding service connection for a tailbone disorder and low back disorder. The Veteran's claims are being returned to the RO for further development.

The Veteran's service connection claims for bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, chronic headaches, right knee condition, peripheral neuropathy of the lower extremities, and lumbar disc disease with left radiculopathy are granted. The Veteran is also awarded a non-compensable rating for his eczema prior to February 25, 2013, and a compensable rating thereafter.

The Veteran's service-connected conditions did not cause or contribute to his death from metastatic gastric cancer.

The Board has determined that further review of the X-ray films, CT scans and MRIs is necessary to determine if the Veteran has ankylosis of the cervical spine. The case is REMANDED for this purpose.

The May 2006 rating decision denied service connection for a back disability as secondary to the Veteran's left hip disability. The claim was not appealed.,New evidence received since the May 2006 decision does not raise a reasonable possibility of substantiating the claim of entitlement to service connection for a back disability.

The Veteran's claim for service connection of degenerative disc disease of the lumbar spine was denied in 2004 and not reopened. The Veteran's PTSD with depression has been rated at 30% since November 12, 2007, and increased to 50% as of December 6, 2011.,The Veteran's PTSD symptoms include anxiety, daily panic attacks, nightmares, auditory and visual hallucinations, flashbacks, social isolation, suicidal ideation, and attempted violence.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for his service-connected disabilities are being remanded to allow for additional examinations and the obtaining of relevant medical records.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded to the RO for scheduling a Board hearing at his local VA office.

The Veteran's service-connected degenerative disc disease of the cervical spine is currently rated at 20 percent effective February 9, 2012. The Board has determined that a higher rating is warranted as of January 12, 2011.

The Veteran's low back disability was rated at 20 percent effective April 4, 2011. The rating is for the period from May 12, 2005 to April 4, 2011 and in excess of 20 percent beginning April 4, 2011.

The Board has remanded the case for further development of evidence, including determining precise dates of active duty training and inactive duty training. The appellant's claims for service connection remain pending.

The evidence does not support a finding that the Veteran's degenerative disc disease of the lumbar spine is related to his military service.

The Veteran's thoracolumbar spine disabilities are currently rated as 10 percent disabling under the General Rating Formula for Diseases and Injuries of the Spine. The VA has determined that these ratings do not meet or approximate the criteria for a higher rating based on the current evidence.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for additional development, including obtaining medical records and scheduling a VA examination. The Veteran is also asked to provide authorization for any pertinent medical records.

The Board has determined that the Veteran does not have a current disability for which service connection can be granted, as his hearing loss and tinnitus are not related to service. The low back disability is also not related to service.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for the review of additional evidence, including Social Security Administration (SSA) records. The TDIU claim is also being remanded due to its inextricability with his service connection claims.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for his service-connected lumbosacral spine disability, cervical spine disability, and L4-5 radiculopathy of the left lower extremity are being remanded due to the need for additional development.

The Board has determined that further development is needed to clarify the nature and etiology of the Veteran's claimed low back disorder, including obtaining private treatment records from his physicians and scheduling a VA examination. The case will be remanded for these actions.