Back / lumbar spine decisions — 2008

The Board has determined that additional development is needed to properly evaluate the veteran's lumbar spine disability and radiculopathy of the right leg. This includes obtaining updated medical records, scheduling a VA examination, and considering both old and new rating criteria.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for higher ratings for his low back disability, finding that the evidence did not support a rating higher than 20 percent since April 23, 2007.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection and increased evaluations for his lumbar spine, cervical spine, and right femur/pelvis disabilities. The appeals were not granted.

The veteran's low back disability was initially granted and rated at 10 percent effective April 29, 2005. The rating was increased to 20 percent as of that date.

The Board has determined that the veteran's low back, left hand, and left arm conditions are not proximately due to or the result of his service-connected right foot disability. The evidence does not support a finding that these conditions were caused by or aggravated by his service-connected condition.

The Board found no evidence linking the veteran's current low back disorder to his military service, including an injury in March 1953. The VA examiner concluded that the veteran's current condition is unrelated to his military service.

The VA has granted an initial evaluation of 20 percent for the veteran's degenerative joint disease of the lumbar spine, L3-L4. The condition is productive of full flexion with pain beginning at 45 degrees but without evidence of ankylosis.

The Board has determined that the veteran's low back disorder and bilateral hearing loss were not incurred or aggravated during his military service, and therefore denied both claims.

The Board has reopened the claim for service connection for a back condition, including arthritis. The evidence submitted since the last denial supports the conclusion that the veteran's current degenerative joint disease and disc degeneration in his lumbar spine is related to injuries sustained during military service.

The Board has determined that the veteran's lower back disability does not meet or approximate the criteria for a rating in excess of 10 percent.

The veteran is seeking service connection for lower back and right knee disorders. The case has been remanded due to missing medical records from the late 1960s.

The Board has granted service connection for a lower back condition, but denied an increased rating for right shoulder tendonitis.

The veteran's service-connected disabilities do not meet the minimum percentage requirements for TDIU, and these disabilities alone are not shown to prevent him from obtaining or retaining substantially gainful employment.

The Board has determined that the veteran's current low back disorder is not related to his service, and therefore denied his claim for service connection.

The Board has granted service connection for a low back condition that is secondary to the veteran's service-connected knee conditions. The claims of increased ratings for bilateral knee disabilities are remanded.

The Board found that the veteran's current back disorder is not attributable to service, and thus denied his claim for service connection.

The veteran's claim for an extension of a temporary total rating based on the need for convalescence was denied, as well as claims for increased ratings for degenerative disc disease (DDD) of the cervical spine.

The veteran's low back disability is currently manifested by significant limitation of motion and pronounced symptoms compatible with sciatic neuropathy with characteristic pain and demonstrable muscle spasm, and other neurological findings appropriate to the site of the diseased disc, with little intermittent relief.

The Board remands the issues of service connection for anxiety and a low back disability to the RO for further development. The veteran's claim for service connection for a foot disability was denied.

The Board remands the claim for additional development, including VCAA notice, obtaining VA medical records from El Paso, Texas, and scheduling a new VA examination.