Back / lumbar spine decisions — 2010

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection and rating of his low back disability, inguinal hernia, and allergic rhinitis due to insufficient medical opinions in the original decision.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings and service connection were denied. The Board found that the residuals of a fracture of the right second metatarsal did not meet criteria for a higher rating, and there was no evidence supporting service connection for the right knee or low back disabilities.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient evidence and a need for another VA medical examination.

The Veteran's claim for a higher rating for his degenerative disc disease of the lumbosacral spine is being remanded due to new evidence and a need for further examination.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's left knee, left hip, lumbosacral spine, and left shoulder disabilities are not related to his service-connected right ankle disability. The evidence does not support a finding of secondary service connection for any of these conditions.

The RO reduced the evaluation for left knee instability from 20% to noncompensable effective October 1, 2008. The RO also maintained a 40% rating for degenerative disc disease and degenerative joint disease of the lumbosacral spine.

The Board has ordered remand due to issues with the previous decision, including consideration of new evidence without a waiver and inadequate addressing of probative value and credibility of lay statements.

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

The Board has determined that the Veteran's current lumbar spine disability is related to his active military service and grants service connection for this condition.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for bilateral knee disorders was denied. The appeal for a temporary total evaluation due to left knee disability requiring convalescence is also denied. The Veteran's TDIU claim is granted effective from October 8, 2009.

The Board found that the Veteran's lower back and hemorrhoid disorders are related to his military service, granting service connection for both conditions.

The Board has granted service connection for the Veteran's back disability, including his cervical and thoracolumbar spine issues. The decision finds that it is at least as likely as not that these conditions are related to events during service.

The Veteran's claim for an increased rating and TDIU was denied. The effective date for the increased rating to 60% for his low back disability is set at November 13, 1998.

The Board has granted service connection for PTSD and found that the Veteran's low back disability is not related to his active duty service. The Veteran was exposed to stressors during basic training, which led to PTSD.

The Veteran's lumbosacral spine disability is related to service and the claim for service connection is granted.

The Veteran's lumbosacral strain and left knee tendonitis were evaluated, but the assigned ratings did not meet the criteria for higher ratings at any time.

The Board found that the Veteran's service treatment records did not show any complaints or diagnosis of a back condition during his active duty. The claim was denied as there is no medical evidence to support a nexus between the current back disorder and his military service.

The Veteran's lumbosacral strain with left sciatica and limitation of motion was granted a disability rating of 20 percent from September 1, 1993 to December 21, 1994. From December 22, 1994 to May 13, 1998, the Veteran's condition warranted a higher rating but not as high as requested. Beginning May 14, 1998, the disability was rated at 40 percent.

The Board has granted service connection for degenerative disc disease and degenerative joint disease of the lumbar spine, finding that these conditions are related to injuries sustained during active service.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's back disorder was incurred in service and is related to his military service, thus granting service connection.