Back / lumbar spine Board decisions

The Board has remanded the case for further development, including a VA examination to determine the nature and etiology of any right or left knee, right or left hand, and back disability. The Veteran's service records show no complaints of knee, hand, or back issues during or immediately after service.

The Board has determined that additional development is needed to determine the etiology of the Veteran's low back disorder and psychiatric symptoms, including PTSD. The claims are being remanded for further examination and development.

The Veteran's service connection claims for various conditions, including decreased vision, headaches, back disorder, sterility and erectile dysfunction, hypertension, skin disorder, nail fungus, and recurrent hemorrhoids are denied as the evidence does not support a finding that these conditions were incurred or aggravated by military service.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded due to the need for a new VA examination of his low back condition.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for a back disability, sleep apnea, and bilateral hearing loss. The Veteran's claim for increased rating for bilateral flat feet was also denied.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded due to the failure to provide a Statement of the Case for issues related to his service-connected degenerative disk disease and radiculopathy. The Veteran disagrees with the current ratings assigned.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded to obtain additional medical opinions regarding the relationship between his service-connected genitourinary problems and his claimed Reiter's syndrome/reactive arthritis, as well as a separate rating for an acquired psychiatric disorder. The claims will be readjudicated after obtaining these opinions.

The Veteran's claim for an earlier effective date of July 26, 2008 for special monthly pension based on the need for regular aid and attendance was granted. The Board found that the evidence is in relative balance regarding whether the criteria for A&A were met as of April 11, 2007.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development due to outstanding records and incomplete VA treatment records.

The Board found that the Veteran's low back disability did not meet or approximate criteria for a higher rating, as there was no ankylosis and neurologic manifestations were not related to service-connected low back disability. The right knee arthritis with meniscus tear met the criteria for a separate 10 percent rating.

The Board finds that the Veteran's current lumbar spine disorders, including degenerative disc disease and osteoporosis, are not related to his service. The Board also found no evidence of a superimposed injury or disease in service that caused additional disability.

The Veteran does not have a chronic low back disorder that was incurred or aggravated by active military service, and the Board finds no evidence to support a presumption of service connection for arthritis.

The Veteran's PTSD symptoms have been found to meet the criteria for a 50 percent evaluation since August 2010, and an initial evaluation in excess of 30 percent from December 8, 2008. The bilateral knee disorders and back disorder are not service-connected.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for a lumbar spine disability is being remanded due to the need for additional development, including obtaining medical records and scheduling a VA examination.

The Board denied reopening of the claims for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder (including schizophrenia) and a lumbar spine disability due to lack of new and material evidence.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection due to incomplete development and lost records. The case is returned to the RO for further action.

The Veteran's cervical spine disability (DDD and DJD) is currently rated at 10 percent, effective October 1, 2000. The Board finds that the current rating does not meet the criteria for a higher evaluation.

The Board found that the Veteran's back and bilateral knee disabilities were not incurred or aggravated by service, including a fall from a telephone pole during service. The VA examiners opined that there was inadequate documentation to relate these conditions to service.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining VA treatment records and scheduling the Veteran for examinations to determine the severity of his service-connected left knee disability, as well as whether any diagnosed cervical spine, lumbar spine, or right knee disabilities are related to his service-connected left knee disability. The issue of entitlement to a total disability rating based on individual unemployability (TDIU) is also being remanded.

The Board has determined that a remand is necessary to obtain additional medical records and to provide the Veteran with examinations to determine the nature and etiology of his claimed lumbar spine disability and COPD.