Back / lumbar spine decisions — 2019

The Veteran's service-connected low back disability was granted an increased evaluation of 40 percent for the period from November 28, 2005 to April 8, 2007.

The Board denied service connection for low back, right shoulder, and left shoulder disabilities due to lack of evidence linking these conditions to service.

The Board has granted a disability rating of 40 percent for the Veteran's lumbosacral spine disability, effective from September 15, 1999. The decision is based on severe limitation of motion of the lumbar spine.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings were denied as his conditions did not meet the criteria for higher ratings under applicable VA rating criteria.

The Veteran's applications to reopen claims for service connection for a back disability and cysts were denied. The claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder was reopened, but the application itself was denied.

The Board denied service connection for various disabilities, including lumbosacral spine disability with associated radiculopathy, cervical spine disability with associated radiculopathy, chronic sinusitis, epigastric disability, right zygomatic arch disability, and left shoulder disability. The evidence did not support a finding that these conditions were incurred in service or related to service.

The Board has determined that additional development is necessary and the appeal is, therefore, REMANDED for further examination and opinion regarding the Veteran's migraine headaches, back disability, sciatica, and chronic fatigue syndrome.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for low back and right knee disabilities have been denied due to lack of evidence showing a nexus between the conditions and military service. The claim for residuals of right-hand trauma is being remanded for further examination.,New evidence has not been received that would reopen the previously denied claims for low back and right knee disabilities, as the new evidence does not provide a reasonable possibility of substantiating these claims.

The Veteran's bilateral flat feet, insomnia, right ankle disability, low back disability, bilateral hip disabilities, and bilateral wrist disabilities are not service-connected.,The Veteran’s current insomnia is considered a component of her service-connected PTSD.

A rating of 50 percent for migraine headaches is granted, effective February 21, 2014.,The claim of service connection for a back disorder (characterized as thoracolumbar spine) has been reopened and granted.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for additional development due to outstanding VA and private treatment records, including an MRI of the lumbar spine and an EMG study of the bilateral lower extremities. The Veteran is seeking higher disability ratings for his service-connected low back disability and radiculopathy.

The Board has decided that the Veteran's claim for service connection for a back condition should be remanded to allow for initial review of new evidence by the AOJ.

The Board has found that there is no evidence of a left knee, low back, or shoulder disability in service and the Veteran did not have complaints referable to these conditions during his active duty. The current disabilities were first noted decades after separation from service.

The Veteran's lumbosacral strain prior to March 17, 2016 was rated at 10 percent and the Board found no evidence of more severe limitation of motion or ankylosis warranting a higher rating.

The Board has decided that there may be relevant service treatment records from Fort Hood for the period of January 2011 to June 2011, and these records should be obtained to determine if they support the Veteran's claim for a low back condition.

The Board has remanded the case for further development, including obtaining an addendum retrospective medical opinion to assess the Veteran's service-connected lumbosacral strain with degenerative arthritis prior to November 8, 2017 and currently. The Veteran is seeking increased ratings for his low back disability.

The Veteran's claim for increased ratings for degenerative arthritis of the lumbar spine with lumbar stenosis and low back pain is being remanded due to inadequate consideration of private treatment records and an insufficient VA examination.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for a back disorder, finding that there was no evidence of a nexus between his current condition and service. The examiner noted that the reported injuries during service were not expected to result in chronic low back pain.

The Board has decided to remand the Veteran's claims for a new VA examination and review of additional evidence, including recent treatment records and medical opinions. The issues include service connection for a lumbar spine disorder as secondary to the service-connected left knee disability, and rating adjustments for osteoarthritis of the left knee.

The Board denied service connection for a low back disability as there is no current diagnosis of the condition and it did not begin during or as a result of service.