Back / lumbar spine decisions — 2013

The Board found that the Veteran's low back disability was not incurred in or aggravated during service and denied his claim for service connection.

The Board found no evidence of a chronic back condition that was incurred or aggravated by service, and thus denied the Veteran's claim for service connection.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including obtaining an addendum VA medical opinion to address whether the Veteran's back disability is related to his military service or aggravated by his service-connected left ankle disability.

The Board found no evidence of chronic disability related to service and denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for a back disorder.

The Veteran's claim for increased ratings for his service-connected lumbosacral strain with degenerative disc disease was denied. The RO granted a 40 percent rating effective from May 26, 2004.

The Board found that uveitis was not incurred in or aggravated by active service, and denied the Veteran's claim for service connection.

The Board has remanded the case due to inadequate medical opinion regarding the relationship between the Veteran's lower back disability and service. The claim is now pending for further development.

The Board denied reopening the Veteran's claim of service connection for a status-post right inguinal hernia repair, including as due to a service-connected status-post left inguinal hernia repair. The Board also denied service connection for a low back disability. Both decisions were based on the lack of new and material evidence.

The Veteran's lumbar strain with degenerative disc disease is rated at 40 percent as of April 14, 2011. His cervical spine disability remains rated at 30 percent throughout the appeal period.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's left knee disability is not related to active duty or service-connected right tibia and fibula fractures, and thus denied her claim for service connection. The lumbar spine and left hip bursitis issues require further clarification due to inadequate VA examination.

The Board has granted service connection for T12 and L1 anterior compression fractures, reopening the claim of service connection for a low back disability. The Veteran's cervical spine disability is also service connected.

The Board has determined that the VA examination is inadequate and remands for a new evaluation of the appellant's service-connected low back strain with degenerative joint disease of the lumbar spine. The issue of entitlement to TDIU has also been raised by the record and must be adjudicated.

The Veteran has been diagnosed with degenerative disc disease and degenerative joint disease of the lumbar spine, which is attributable to his active service. The Board grants service connection for a lumbar spine disability.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded to obtain additional medical records and for a VA examination. The issues of entitlement to an initial evaluation in excess of 50 percent for PTSD, and service connection for a back disability are pending.

The Board is remanding the case for additional development to obtain updated medical records and provide an opinion regarding whether the Veteran's current low back disability is related to service or his service-connected left knee disability.

The Veteran's appeal has been withdrawn prior to the Board making a decision.

The Board finds that the Veteran's currently diagnosed low back disorder did not have its clinical onset in active service and is not causally related to active service.

The Veteran's claim for an increased rating for migraine headaches has been granted, with a current evaluation of 50 percent.

The Veteran is seeking service connection for a low back disorder, which he contends is related to his service-connected right knee and left ankle disabilities. The Board has determined that additional development is needed before the case can be decided.

The Board denied the Veteran's appeal for higher initial ratings for his lumbar intervertebral disk syndrome and irritable bowel syndrome, finding that the evidence did not support a rating in excess of 20 percent for the lumbar disability or a rating in excess of 10 percent for the gastrointestinal disorder.