Back / lumbar spine decisions — 2010

The Veteran withdrew his appeal for the claims related to his low back and left shoulder injuries, as well as the claim of service connection for a left knee disability.

The Board denied service connection for a right ankle disability and a low back disability, finding that the Veteran's current disabilities were not proximately due to or caused by his service-connected conditions.

The Board found that the Veteran's hypertension is not related to her active service and denied her claim for service connection.,There is no evidence of a low back disability during service or within one year following separation from active service, and there is no competent medical evidence linking any current back disability to the Veteran's periods of active service.

The Board found that the Veteran's upper back disability was not incurred or aggravated by his active duty service and denied the claim.

The Board has remanded the case due to the need for additional medical records and further development of the claim.

The Veteran's service-connected low back disability is currently rated at 20 percent prior to May 26, 2009 and 40 percent beginning on that date.,Additionally, the Veteran is separately entitled to a 10 percent evaluation for his right-sided mild incomplete paralysis of the sciatic nerve.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for his lumbosacral strain and degenerative arthritis, as well as right knee chondromalacia patella and right hip disability, were denied. The Board found that the current ratings adequately reflected the severity of the disabilities.

The Veteran's service-connected musculoligamentous strain of the lumbar spine with right lower extremity radiculopathy is currently rated at 10 percent, which is the maximum schedular rating available under Diagnostic Code 5237.

The Board found that the Veteran's current back disabilities are not related to his military service and denied his claim for service connection.

The Veteran's appeals for service connection have been withdrawn, and the cases are dismissed.

The Board finds that the Veteran's current low back disability is not related to his military service, and thus denies his claim for service connection.

The Veteran's lumbar spine disability is currently rated at 20 percent, which represents the maximum schedular rating available under Diagnostic Code 5243 for intervertebral disc syndrome. The Board found that his symptoms do not warrant a higher rating based on the criteria provided in the General Rating Formula for Diseases and Injuries of the Spine or the Incapacitating Episode Formula.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for osteoarthritis and degenerative disc disease of the cervical spine is being remanded due to incomplete records, deficient VCAA notice, and need for a new VA examination.

The Veteran's service-connected lumbar spine disability is manifested by forward flexion to 30 degrees or less, and the schedular criteria for a 40 percent rating are met.

The Veteran's service-connected low back disability is rated at 40 percent since March 12, 2009. The rating reflects severe limitation of motion and the need for a higher evaluation.

The Veteran's claim for a total disability rating based on individual unemployability (TDIU) is being remanded due to the need to obtain Social Security Administration (SSA) records and determine if extraschedular TDIU consideration is warranted.

The Veteran's claim for an increased rating for cervical spine degenerative disc disease was denied as the evidence did not meet the schedular criteria for a higher rating.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's low back disability did not begin during service and is not otherwise shown to be causally related to any incident of service.

The Veteran's claim for an increased evaluation in excess of 20 percent for his service-connected lumbar spine disorder is being remanded due to the need for a new VA examination and consideration of updated evidence.

The Board has reopened the claims for service connection for a right elbow disability, bilateral ankle disability, and low back disability with left hip problems. The Veteran's current disabilities are found to be related to his active military service.