Back / lumbar spine decisions — 2010

The Board found that the Veteran's current low back disability is not related to his military service and denied his claim.

The Board found that the appellant's current diagnosis of degenerative disease of the thoracolumbar spine is not linked to his service, and thus denied his claim for service connection.

The Veteran's thoracolumbar spine disorder was rated at 10 percent prior to March 12, 2002 and increased to 20 percent effective April 5, 2007. The claim for right lower extremity radiculopathy is denied.

The Board has granted service connection for a low back disorder and found that the Veteran's current diagnosis of mechanical low back syndrome is related to his period of active service. The left elbow disorder claim remains pending as it was remanded.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's degenerative disc disease and degenerative joint disease of the lumbar spine were incurred in service, granting his claim for service connection.

The Board has determined that additional VA examinations are needed to determine the presence of a lumbar spine and/or bilateral hip disorder, and whether any found disorders are related to or aggravated by the Veteran's service-connected left knee disability. The Veteran is reminded that he must report for any scheduled examination.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded due to the need for a VA examination and consideration of additional medical records.

The Veteran's claim for an initial compensable rating before January 28, 2008 was granted and he is now rated at 10 percent for pseudofolliculitis barbae.

The Veteran's claims for increased evaluations of his service-connected low back disorder and pterygium of the left eye are being remanded to allow for additional development, including obtaining medical records and scheduling examinations.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not preclude him from securing or following a substantially gainful occupation.

The Board has granted service connection for the lumbar spine disability and assigned an initial evaluation of 10 percent. The appellant is seeking a higher rating, but the current evidence does not support a higher evaluation based on orthopedic manifestations alone.

The Veteran's appeal was denied for an extension of a temporary total disability rating for convalescence beyond August 31, 2006 following low back surgery in March 2006. The Veteran's service-connected degenerative disc disease of the lumbar spine did not meet the criteria for extended convalescence benefits.

The Veteran's claimed bilateral leg disorder is not currently shown, and the Board finds that it was not incurred in or aggravated by active service.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims due to missing service treatment records and a need for further examination.

The Board finds that the Veteran's current lumbar and cervical spine conditions are likely due to strain-type injuries sustained during service, and grants service connection for these disabilities.

The Board found that the Veteran's current low back disorder was not incurred in or aggravated by his military service, and thus denied his claim for service connection.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for a low back disorder, finding that it is not related to his active service or service-connected disability. The issue of entitlement to an initial compensable rating for SFW, right hip and buttock, was not addressed in this decision.

The Veteran's service-connected spine disability has been manifested by degenerative joint disease and chronic lumbosacral strain, but does not meet the criteria for a higher initial rating.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's chronic low back strain and right thigh muscle disability are related to his military service, granting these claims.

The Veteran's claim for a rating in excess of 40 percent for his herniated nucleus pulposus at L5-S1 was denied. The Board found that the Veteran did not meet the criteria for an increased rating based on either limitation of motion or intervertebral disc syndrome.