Back / lumbar spine decisions — 2010

The Board found no evidence of a chronic lumbar spine disability during active service and concluded that the Veteran's current disorder is not related to his military service. As such, the claim for service connection was denied.

The Board has ordered a remand for a VA examination to determine if the appellant's current low back disability is related to service, including an injury in service. The appeal will be returned to the RO after this examination.

The Board has ordered a remand for the VA to provide an opinion on whether the Veteran's current back disability is related to an in-service injury, addressing continuity of symptomatology and post-service injuries. The claim will be readjudicated after this.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for lumbar and cervical spine disabilities were denied as the evidence did not meet the criteria for a higher rating under the applicable VA rating schedule.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's current low back condition is not related to his service and denied his claim for service connection.

The Board has ordered additional development due to new evidence submitted by the Veteran and incomplete VA examination. The case is remanded for further review.

The Veteran's lumbosacral degenerative joint disease with spondylolisthesis warrants a 20 percent rating based on limitation of motion. His left lower extremity radiculopathy does not warrant an increased rating as it is currently manifested by no more than mild incomplete paralysis.

The Veteran's low back disorder is not shown to be related to service, and the Board finds that his current disability was not incurred or aggravated by military service.

The Veteran's claims for an earlier effective date for irritable bowel syndrome and a higher initial rating for lumbosacral strain have been granted. The effective date for the grant of service connection for irritable bowel syndrome is November 26, 1997.

The Veteran's PTSD, low back disability, and migraine headaches are all service-connected. The hearing loss and sleep disorder claims remain pending.

The Veteran's mid to lower back disorder and PTSD have been granted service connection, with the back disorder receiving a 30 percent rating.

The Board has granted service connection for a low back disorder, diagnosed as degenerative disc disease and spondylolisthesis. The issue of entitlement to TDIU is pending.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims of service connection for mid-back and low back disabilities, finding no evidence of such conditions during or after service.

The Veteran's claim for service connection of his upper back disability is being remanded due to the need for a VA examination.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for a low back disorder was denied as there is no competent medical evidence linking his current degenerative joint disease to his military service.

The Veteran's service-connected cervical spondylosis, thoracic and lumbar degenerative disc diseases have not been shown to warrant a rating in excess of the current ratings.

The Veteran's claim for an effective date prior to February 1, 2005 for TDIU was denied as the earliest ascertainable date of increased disability was February 1, 2005.,The Veteran's claim for an effective date prior to February 1, 2005 for DEA eligibility was denied as he did not meet the criteria for permanent and total disability prior to that date.

The Veteran has withdrawn his appeals for increased ratings for postoperative herniated nucleus pulposus of the lumbar spine and postoperative residuals of anterior cruciate ligament tear, right knee. The Board has dismissed these matters as a result.

The Veteran's claim for a higher rating for his right hip DJD was denied, as the evidence did not show that his disability met or approximated the criteria for a higher rating. His claims for service connection of lumbar spine disorders and TDIU were also denied.