Back / lumbar spine decisions — 2011

The Veteran's appeal is remanded due to the need for additional medical examinations and opinions regarding his low back disability and sleep apnea claims.

The Veteran's lumbosacral strain with degenerative joint disease is currently rated at 10 percent, and the Board finds that a higher evaluation is not warranted.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's low back disabilities, diagnosed as lumbosacral spine strain and degenerative joint disease, were caused by his service-connected left knee disorder.

The Board denied an increased rating for lumbar spine degenerative disc disease, L5-S1, as the evidence did not show forward flexion of the thoracolumbar spine limited to 30 degrees or less or ankylosis of the entire thoracolumbar spine.

The Board has determined that additional development is needed to properly adjudicate the Veteran's claims, including obtaining medical opinions and records.

The Board granted increased ratings for the appellant's lumbar degenerative disc disease and radiculopathy, with a 40% rating effective since July 29, 2009.

The Board found no evidence of a chronic back disorder in service and denied the claim as there is insufficient medical evidence to establish a link between the current condition and service.

The Board found no evidence of a current lumbar spine disorder that is causally or etiologically related to the Veteran's military service.

The Board found that the appellant's low back disorder, including degenerative disc disease of the lumbar spine, was not incurred or aggravated during active duty training and denied service connection.

The Veteran's service-connected traumatic degenerative joint disease of the lumbar spine and weakness of the lower extremities are not rated higher than their current levels.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for a back disorder and bilateral knee disorder, finding that there is no evidence of an in-service injury or disease linking these conditions to her active duty.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's thoracolumbar spine disorder is related to his active duty service and grants entitlement to service connection.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities have a combined rating of 80 percent and preclude substantially gainful employment, allowing for the grant of TDIU.

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

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims of service connection for a low back disorder and a neck disorder due to incomplete development, including the need for an additional VA examination.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's multiple joint disability, including psoriatic arthritis and degenerative arthritis of the lumbar spine, was not incurred in or aggravated by service, nor is it proximately due to his service-connected psoriasis.

The Board found that the Veteran's current back disorder is not related to his active service and denied his claim for service connection.

The Board has remanded the case for further development, including VA examinations to determine the etiology of the Veteran's low back disability and the extent and degree of severity of his migraine headaches.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining VA treatment records and a new examination to assess the current severity of his low back injury and right lower extremity radiculopathy.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including obtaining medical records and scheduling a VA examination. The issues of service connection and TDIU will be addressed after the additional development is completed.