Back / lumbar spine decisions — 2017

The Board is remanding the claims of hypertension, low back disability, and hernia for additional development. The cause of death issue will be deferred until these issues are resolved.

The Board found no evidence of a chronic back disability in service and denied the claim for service connection. The coccyx fracture was not shown to be related to service.

The Board has reopened the Veteran's claim for service connection for a back disability and granted the claim on the merits.

The Veteran's claims of increased ratings for lumbosacral spine and cervical spine disabilities are being remanded due to the need for additional development, including a VA examination.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's low back disorder and right shoulder disorder did not manifest within one year of service or are otherwise related to his military service.

The Board denied service connection for a low back disability and hip disability, finding that the current disabilities are not related to service or presumed exposure. The hip disability was granted as it met criteria for an undiagnosed illness under the Persian Gulf Veterans' Act.

The Veteran's claims for increased rating and TDIU related to his service-connected lumbar spine intervertebral disc syndrome with degenerative arthritis are being remanded due to the need for additional development, including a new VA examination.

The Veteran's appeal involves claims for increased ratings, effective dates, and TDIU for his service-connected low back strain and lumbosacral degenerative arthritis. The case is being remanded to obtain additional medical evidence and clarify the basis of the grant of Dependents' Education Assistance.

The Board found that the Veteran's current low back disability and arthritis did not have its onset during service, nor is there evidence of a relationship between his in-service injury and his current conditions. The preponderance of the evidence does not support granting service connection for these conditions.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for low back and right shoulder disabilities, finding that there is no evidence of a causal relationship between these conditions and his military service.

The appellant withdrew her appeals for the claims of service connection for left knee chondromalacia with a history of left meniscectomy, low back strain and degenerative disc disease as secondary to the left knee disorder, chloracne on the back, shoulders, and lower abdomen, and hearing loss in the left ear.

The Veteran's chronic fatigue syndrome and back disability are found to be secondary to his service-connected gastric ulcer, esophageal stricture, peptic esophagitis, and/or diverticulum.

The Board found that the Veteran's low back disability, including displacement of lumbar disc L5-S1 with L5-S1 hemilaminectomy, lumbar spondylosis, and lumbar sacral strain, is not related to service. The symptoms were isolated during service and did not manifest within one year after separation from service.

The Board finds that the preponderance of evidence is against finding a current disability related to low back strain incurred in service. The Veteran's hypertension claim has not been addressed due to lack of a VA examination.

The Veteran's lumbar spine disability and radiculopathy of the lower extremities have been granted initial ratings, with the lumbar spine disability receiving a 20 percent rating from March 6, 2008 to prior to August 25, 2008.

The Board has remanded the case due to outstanding treatment records and a need for further evidentiary development.

The Board has determined that there is no competent and credible evidence linking the Veteran's current low back disability to his active service, thus denying his claim for service connection.

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

The Veteran's low back syndrome, strain of the dorsal paravertebral muscles, thoracic facet strain, and dorsolumbar paravertebral myositis are currently rated at 40 percent disabling. The appeal is denied as the criteria for a higher rating have not been met.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded due to the addition of substantial medical evidence since the September 2010 Supplemental Statement of the Case and because there is no statement of the case for an earlier effective date for service connection for a cervical spine disability. The issues of increased rating for lumbar spine disability, service connection for bilateral lower extremity lumbar spine radiculopathy, and earlier effective date for cervical spine disability are being remanded.