Back / lumbar spine Board decisions

The Veteran's back disorder is presumed to have been aggravated by service, but the Board needs further medical opinions to determine if this aggravation was clear and unmistakable.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for a back disorder is being remanded due to the need for additional medical examination and consideration of all relevant evidence.

The Board has ordered additional development to determine if the Veteran's ulcerative colitis and low back disability are related to his service-connected left knee and bilateral pes planus disabilities, or if they have been caused by any other factors.

The Veteran's claim for an increased rating for lumbosacral strain is being remanded due to the need for a new VA examination.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims of service connection for right eye disability, hepatitis, left hip disability, lumbar spine disability, bilateral leg disability, and right foot and ankle disability. The evidence does not support a finding that these conditions are related to military service.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded due to the need for additional development, including obtaining SSA records and scheduling a VA examination.

The Board has decided to remand the Veteran's claim for a VA examination and further development of his service connection claim for degenerative disc disease of the lumbar spine.

The Board has determined that new and material evidence has not been received to reopen the Veteran's claims for service connection for carcinoid disease affecting multiple body parts and musculoskeletal low back pain with minimal degenerative changes of the lumbar spine. The previous denials remain unchanged.

The Board has granted service connection for a low back disorder and increased the rating for epilepsy to 20 percent, effective October 22, 2008.

The Board has determined that additional evidentiary development is necessary prior to the adjudication of the Veteran's claims for service connection for a back disability and a bilateral shoulder disability.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development due to missing service treatment records and other medical records.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection and evaluations related to his right foot, low back, nose, and inguinal hernia disabilities. The decision found that new and material evidence had not been received to reopen the claim for a right foot disability, and that there was no evidence of a chronic nose or low back disability. For the period prior to February 13, 2009, the Veteran's residuals of inguinal hernia were evaluated as noncompensable, but from that date forward, he received a 10% evaluation.

The Veteran's combined disability rating is 60%, which does not meet the minimum percentage requirements for a TDIU. The preponderance of evidence demonstrates that the Veteran is not unemployable only by reason of service-connected disabilities, and referral for extraschedular consideration is not warranted.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings and earlier effective dates were granted. He was assigned a 50 percent rating for PTSD, effective June 13, 2007.

The Veteran's claim for an initial evaluation in excess of 20 percent for degenerative disc disease of the lumbar spine on and after June 18, 2008 was denied as there is no evidence showing forward flexion limited to 30 degrees or less, favorable ankylosis of the entire thoracolumbar spine, or incapacitating episodes having a total duration of at least four weeks during any twelve month period.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's death was not caused by or related to his service-connected disabilities, and thus denied the claim for service connection for the cause of the Veteran's death.

The Veteran's DDD L5-S1, postoperative disc arthroplasty has been rated at 20 percent since June 7, 2005.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development due to missing medical records, including those from VA and private sources. The Veteran is asked to provide information about her treatment history since separation from service.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's cervical spine disability and left arm disability were not caused or aggravated by his service-connected low back disability. The Veteran's low back disability is currently rated as 40 percent disabling.

The Veteran's only service-connected disability, lumbar myositis with degenerative disc disease and radiculopathy, is rated at 60 percent. The evidence does not show that this condition alone renders the Veteran unemployable.