Back / lumbar spine decisions — 2018

The Veteran's bilateral leg disorder, diagnosed as bilateral lower extremity muscle cramps, is related to service.,The Veteran's lumbar spine disorder, which has been diagnosed as degenerative arthritis, is not related to any injury, disease, or event incurred in service.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for his low back disability, left and right lower extremity radiculopathy, and schizoaffective disorder with major depressive disorder were denied. The Board found that the evidence did not meet the criteria for higher ratings under the applicable rating criteria.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for increased ratings for a ventral hernia and service connection for back, left knee, and psychiatric disabilities. The Veteran's ventral hernia was rated as 20 percent disabling, which is the maximum rating available under the applicable diagnostic code.

The Veteran's service-connected lumbar intervertebral disc syndrome with degenerative arthritis is manifested by pain with muscle spasm productive of guarding severe enough to lead to an abnormal gait, warranting a 20 percent rating.

The Board has granted service connection for a lumbar spine disorder, but denied the claims for bilateral hip and knee disorders as well as cervical spine disorders. The Veteran's current conditions are not related to his military service.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's claimed right and left knee, hip, low back, and neck disorders are not service-connected as they were not caused or aggravated by his service-connected bilateral foot disabilities.

The Veteran's appeal for a higher initial rating and the reduction of his disability rating from 40 percent to 10 percent were both granted. The effective date is not specified as it was based on the reduction decision.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's low back, neck, bilateral foot, cardiovascular, and diabetes mellitus disabilities are not related to his service. The evidence does not support a finding of service connection for any of these conditions.

The Veteran's thoracolumbar and cervical spine disorders were not incurred in or aggravated by service. The Board found that the current conditions are related to non-service-connected low back disorder.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for a low back disability and bilateral hip disability, finding that there was no credible evidence of an in-service injury. The claim for TDIU is pending but not currently decided.

The Board denied service connection for a lumbar spine disorder and left wrist condition, finding that the Veteran's back condition is not related to his military service. The right knee and left knee disabilities were also found to be unrelated to service-connected conditions.

The Veteran's claim for an increased rating for degenerative disc disease (DDD) of the lumbar spine at L5-S1 is being remanded due to the need for additional development, including a VA examination.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for a lumbar spine disorder and hypertension is being remanded due to the need for additional medical opinions regarding the nature and etiology of his back disorders.

The Board denied service connection for degenerative disc disease, multilevel lumbar spine with spinal stenosis at L2-L3 (arthritis), claimed as back condition, and service connection for a neurological condition of the lower extremities including peripheral neuropathy or sciatica.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for an increased rating for his back disability and TDIU due to service-connected disabilities, finding that the evidence did not support a higher schedular rating or extraschedular consideration.

The Board found that the Veteran's lumbar spine disorder was not incurred in or aggravated by active service and denied his claim for service connection.

The Veteran's appeals for increased ratings for his service-connected lumbar and cervical spine disabilities have been dismissed as the Veteran has withdrawn his appeal.

The Board found that the Veteran's back disability is not related to his service and denied his claim.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's low back disorder and bilateral foot disability are not service-connected, as they are not related to his military service or any in-service injury.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for further development due to incomplete records from Fort Jackson, South Carolina.