Back / lumbar spine decisions — 2013

The Board has remanded the case due to inadequate VA examination and missing records. The Veteran needs to provide additional evidence or identify any relevant records he may have.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's lumbar and cervical spine disabilities did not have their onset in active service, nor are they related to a disease or injury during active service.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's current degenerative disc disease of the lumbar spine is related to his in-service injury lifting an engine, and grants service connection for this condition.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded due to the need for a video conference hearing. The claims of service connection and rating for his back condition, left leg compartment syndrome, and left knee ACL reconstruction are still pending.

The Veteran's right knee degenerative joint disease is currently rated at 10 percent, and the Board has determined that a higher rating of 20 percent is warranted for this condition.

The Board has determined that additional evidence is needed to fully and fairly consider the Veteran's claims, including obtaining VA treatment records and scheduling him for examinations.

The Veteran's claims for increased evaluations of his service-connected back and neck disabilities are being remanded to allow for additional development, including a VA examination.

The Board finds that a low back disorder, to include degenerative disc disease of the lumbar spine with degenerative arthritis, was not incurred in or aggravated by active service and arthritis may not be presumed to have been incurred in service.

The Board has granted service connection for bilateral pes planus and a low back disability, finding that the Veteran's current conditions are at least as likely as not related to his military service. The rating assigned is 100%.

The Veteran's appeal has been withdrawn and the case is dismissed.

The Board has remanded the case due to the need for additional development, including obtaining SSA records.

The Board found that the Veteran does not have a low back disorder that is related to his military service or a service-connected disability, and thus denied his claim for service connection.

The Board has determined that the Veteran does not have a current disability for which service connection can be granted, specifically for her right knee and left foot callus of the 5th metatarsal head. As such, these claims are denied.

The Veteran's degenerative changes of the lumbar spine have been rated at 20 percent since April 20, 2012. The rating is based on his current range of motion and symptoms.

The Veteran's service-connected degenerative arthritis of the spine and associated radiculopathy involving the left lower extremity have been rated at 20 percent since August 10, 2009. The initial rating remains unchanged from a previous 10 percent rating prior to that date.

The Veteran's claim for PTSD was denied as he does not currently have a diagnosed condition during the appeal period. The other claims were also denied.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's cervical and thoracolumbar spine disabilities are related to his active duty service, granting service connection for these conditions.

The Board found that the Veteran's current low back disorder is not due to an injury or event during his period of active service, and denied his claim for service connection.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's degenerative disc disease of the lumbar spine is etiologically related to an injury sustained during a period of Active Duty for Training (ACDUTRA) in 1986, and thus grants service connection.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities did not render him unable to secure or follow substantially gainful employment prior to May 7, 2009.