Back / lumbar spine Board decisions

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded due to his failure to appear for a scheduled videoconference hearing. He requested rescheduling due to hospitalization, and the Board finds this reasonable.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development of his claims, including obtaining medical records from Dr. T. L. N.

The Board has determined that new and material evidence has been received to reopen the claims for service connection for low back disability, cervical spine disability, and left knee disability. The Veteran's current disabilities are found to be at least as likely as not related to his military service.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's current low back disability, diagnosed as degenerative disc disease and degenerative joint disease of L4-L5, was not incurred in or aggravated by active military service. The pre-existing pars interarticularis defect and spondylolysis at L4 were found to have existed prior to service and were not aggravated during service.

The Board found no evidence to support the Veteran's claim that his current low back disability, including sciatic nerve involvement, was caused by events or conditions during service. The examiner concluded there is no nexus between the Veteran's claimed disabilities and his active duty.

The Veteran's appeal has been withdrawn, and the claims for increased ratings for service-connected thoracolumbar spine and right hip disabilities have been dismissed.

The Board has found that new and material evidence has been submitted to reopen the Veteran's claim of entitlement to service connection for a lumbar spine disability, to include as secondary to service-connected arteriovascular insufficiency of both lower extremities. The reopened claim is remanded to the RO.

The Board has determined that further development is needed for the Veteran's claims of service connection for a low back disorder, bilateral knee disorder, and PTSD due to issues with his discharge from service and incomplete medical records. The claims are being remanded to obtain additional information and evidence.

The Board denied service connection for the appellant's claimed low back disorder, left knee injury (torn meniscus), obstructive sleep apnea, irritable bowel syndrome, left ankle/tendon disorder, and right ankle/tendon disorder. The decision found that these conditions were not incurred or aggravated by active military service.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient evidence to decide the claims of service connection for migraine headaches and left knee disability. The claim of service connection for a low back disability is deferred until the claim of service connection for the left knee disability is finally adjudicated.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities have not rendered him unable to obtain and retain substantially gainful employment.

The Board finds that the Veteran's low back, left knee, and left hip disorders are secondarily related to his service-connected right knee disability.

The Board found that the Veteran's current back disability is not causally related to his active service or any incident therein, and thus denied entitlement to service connection for a back disability.

The Veteran's claims for increased disability ratings for various musculoskeletal conditions have been denied. The VA has determined that the current evaluations do not meet the criteria for higher ratings based on the evidence of record.

The Board finds that the Veteran's headaches are not related to his active duty service or a service-connected disability, and therefore, denies the claim for service connection.

The Veteran's service-connected degenerative disc disease of the lumbar spine has resulted in some degree of limited motion with pain, warranting a 10 percent evaluation as of September 28, 2012.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims of service connection for sleep apnea, low back disability, narcolepsy, and left knee disorder. The evidence did not support a finding that these conditions were incurred or aggravated by service.

The Veteran's low back disability is currently rated at 40 percent, the maximum schedular rating available under DC 5242. The evidence does not show unfavorable ankylosis of the entire thoracolumbar spine or incapacitating episodes with a total duration of at least 6 weeks during the past 12 months.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded to obtain additional VA treatment records, update his vocational rehabilitation folder, and provide him with a new VA examination. The claims will be readjudicated based on the updated evidence.

The Board has decided to remand the case for further development due to missing service treatment records and a need for a VA examination to determine the etiology of the Veteran's back disability.