Back / lumbar spine Board decisions

The Board found that the Veteran's current lumbar spine disorder is not related to his service and denied his claim for service connection.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded to the RO for a videoconference hearing before the Board. The issues of service connection for left knee disability, lower back disability, pes planus, and a compensable evaluation for left wrist laceration scar are pending.

The Board has granted a rating of 20 percent for the Veteran's service-connected right knee disability, effective from February 2003. The Veteran also received a separate 10 percent rating for his degenerative disc disease of the lumbar spine.

The Veteran withdrew his appeal before the Board could make a decision.

The Board has ordered a new VA examination to determine if the Veteran's current back disability is related to service. The case will be returned for further review after obtaining updated VA treatment records and any private treatment records.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including obtaining private treatment records and securing releases from the Veteran to obtain these records. The claims will be readjudicated after this information is obtained.

The Veteran's claims for service connection have been reopened, but the Board has determined that new and material evidence has not been received to reopen his diabetes mellitus, low back disorder, or gastroparesis claims. His Parkinson's disease, eye disorder, and hypertension claims are denied.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for further development, including scheduling a VA examination to assess the current nature and severity of his service-connected low back disability. Additionally, any treatment records from the Jackson VA CBOC dated from April 2012 to the present should be obtained.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for a back disability, finding that there was no clear and unmistakable evidence of pre-existing condition and that any current disability is not related to military service.

The Veteran is entitled to a TDIU from March 12, 2007 due to service-connected disabilities that rendered him unemployable.

The Veteran's claims for service connection are being remanded due to the need for additional development and consideration of his lumbar spine disability, as well as any potential bilateral leg disability.

The Board has remanded the claims for additional development and adjudication due to incomplete service treatment records and need for further examination.

The Board granted a TDIU from September 20, 2004 based on the Veteran's service-connected disabilities meeting the combined percentage threshold criteria under 38 C.F.R. § 4.16(a).

The Veteran's lumbar spine disability is currently rated at 10 percent, the maximum schedular rating available for limitation of motion. The claim for sinusitis and CTS has been reopened but no new evidence was provided to support these claims.

The Board has reopened the Veteran's claims for service connection for right and left knee disabilities, but is unable to proceed with a decision on the merits due to the need for additional development.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for increased ratings for his service-connected cervical and lumbar spine disabilities, finding that the evidence did not meet the criteria for a higher rating under the applicable VA rating schedule.

The Veteran's claims for higher ratings were granted, with the low back disability receiving a rating of 40 percent effective from August 17, 2006. The equinus of both feet and radiculopathy of the right lower extremity received separate 20 percent ratings since August 17, 2006.

The Board has remanded the case for further development, including obtaining a medical opinion regarding whether the Veteran's low back disability is related to his service-connected bilateral knee disabilities. The claim will be reconsidered after this additional development.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims of entitlement to service connection for a back disability and a bilateral foot disability, finding no evidence linking these conditions to his military service.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's back disability, including arthritis, is not related to his military service and has denied his claim for service connection.