Back / lumbar spine Board decisions

The Board has decided that the Veteran's claims of entitlement to service connection for right knee and back disorders need further examination and evidence review before a final decision can be made.

The Veteran's claims for increased rating and service connection were denied. The Board found that the current rating of 40 percent adequately reflects his disability.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded due to the need for additional VA examinations and retrieval of relevant treatment records.

The Veteran's claims for service connection and increased evaluations were denied. The Board found no evidence linking the current conditions to his military service.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including a supplemental VA examination and review of the claims file to determine whether new and material evidence has been received to reopen the Veteran's claim for service connection for a low back disorder.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for further development, including a VA examination to assess the severity of his service-connected lumbar spine degenerative disc disease/arthritis and associated lower extremity radiculopathy.

The Veteran's claims for an initial evaluation in excess of 20 percent for mechanical low back pain, service connection for numbness and weakness of both arms and hands (with a separate evaluation for right leg neurologic manifestations), and hypertension were all denied. The Veteran was granted service connection for numbness and weakness of both arms and hands with a separate evaluation.

The Board is remanding the Veteran's case for additional development, including obtaining SSA records and a VA psychiatric examination.

The Board found that the Veteran's claimed conditions, including right and left lower extremity radiculopathy and bilateral hip disabilities, are not due to disease or injury incurred in service or secondary to a service-connected disability. The claims were denied.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for increased ratings and service connection, finding that the evidence did not support granting any of the requested benefits.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's low back disorder is related to his active service, and thus grants service connection for this condition.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's claimed lumbar spine and right shoulder disabilities are not related to service, and thus denied his claims for service connection.

The Veteran's claims for service connection are being remanded due to incomplete development of his reserve component service records and the need for additional medical examinations.

The Veteran's low back strain with degenerative disc disease has been rated at 40 percent since July 21, 2010. The rating is effective as of that date.

The Veteran's lumbar spine disability is rated at 20 percent, and the service connection for a psychiatric disorder remains unresolved.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for a low back disorder was reopened and granted. Service connection for hypertension, claimed as due to diabetes mellitus and herbicide exposure, was also granted.

The Veteran's disability has not resulted in forward flexion of the thoracolumbar spine greater than 30 degrees, but not greater than 60 degrees, or the combined range of motion of the thoracolumbar spine not greater than 120 degrees. The Veteran does not meet the criteria for an increased evaluation.

The Veteran's claim for TDIU was granted effective November 1, 2004, the date of his service connection for a psychiatric disability. The effective date for the grant of TDIU is set at this time as it meets the threshold requirements for a schedular TDIU.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining updated VA examination and private medical records. The case will be readjudicated after the development.

The Veteran's claims for higher ratings for his left ankle disability are being remanded to the RO due to further development needed. The claim for service connection for pes planus and neck, upper and lower back disabilities is also pending.