Back / lumbar spine decisions — 2014

The Board has reopened the Veteran's claims for service connection for a low back disorder and right shoulder disorder, finding new and material evidence. Service connection is granted for these conditions.,Service connection was denied for residuals of a blow to the head.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's current back disabilities are not related to his service, and therefore denied his claim for service connection.

The Board found that the Veteran's gout and lower back condition were not caused or aggravated by his service-connected foot conditions.

The Board denied service connection for back disorder and head injury residuals.

The Veteran's arthralgia of the lumbosacral area and disability of the lower left extremity were not found to be related to service, including presumed herbicide exposure.

The Board found that the Veteran's low back disorder and associated left lower extremity radiculopathy were not incurred in or aggravated by his active military service, and may not be presumed to have been.

The Board found that the appellant's low back disorder did not pre-exist service and was not aggravated by service. The weight of evidence does not support a finding that it is related to any service-connected disability.

The Board has determined that the preponderance of evidence is against a finding that the Veteran's current neck and back disabilities are etiologically related to his active duty service.

The Board has determined that the evidence is in equipoise as to whether the Veteran's tinnitus and chronic lumbar strain are related to his active service, thus granting service connection for these conditions.

The Veteran's service-connected degenerative arthritis of the lumbar spine is currently rated at 20 percent, and the Board finds that a higher rating is not warranted based on the evidence provided.

The Veteran's service-connected degenerative disc disease of the lumbar spine is rated at 10 percent prior to July 27, 2006 and at 20 percent thereafter. The Veteran also has a separate 10 percent rating for lower extremity radiculopathy.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including obtaining SSA records and VA examination.

The Board has reopened the Veteran's claim of service connection for a back disability, finding that new and material evidence has been received. The case is being remanded to obtain additional medical opinions regarding the nature and etiology of the Veteran's bilateral knee and back disabilities.

The Veteran's lumbar spine disability is found to have been incurred or aggravated during a period of active duty for training (ACDUTRA), and the Board grants service connection.

The Veteran's claim for a total disability rating based upon individual unemployability (TDIU) is being remanded due to additional development needed, including obtaining VA treatment records and scheduling an appropriate VA examination.

The Veteran's lumbar spine tumor was diagnosed within one year of separation from service and manifested to a degree of at least 10 percent during that time, meeting the criteria for presumptive service connection.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for a right ankle disability, lower back disability, and left knee disability. The preponderance of evidence is against finding that these disabilities are related to service or any other service-connected condition.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for a back disability, finding that there was no evidence of continuity of symptomatology since service and concluding that the current condition is less likely related to the in-service injury.

The Veteran's low back strain has not met the criteria for a higher rating than 20 percent since August 25, 2011.

The Board finds that the Veteran's left knee and lumbar spine disorders are secondary to his service-connected right knee disorder, resulting in a grant of service connection for these conditions.