Back / lumbar spine Board decisions

The Board found that the Veteran's low back, cervical, left hip, and right hip disorders are not related to service or a service-connected disability. The claims for these conditions were denied.

The Veteran's claim for a rating in excess of 10 percent for thoracolumbar strain was granted, with the effective date being May 29, 2008. The other issues remain denied.

The Veteran's chronic lower back disability has been rated at 10 percent since July 2008. The most recent VA examination in February 2016 showed forward flexion of the thoracolumbar spine greater than 60 degrees but not greater than 85 degrees, and a combined range of motion not greater than 120 degrees. These findings do not meet the criteria for an increased rating beyond 10 percent.

The Board found that there is no evidence linking the Veteran's current low back disability to service or her service-connected PTSD, and thus denied her claim.

The Board denied service connection for back disability, finding that the Veteran's current low back pain is not related to events during service.,Service connection was granted for an acquired psychiatric disorder (Personality Disorder), but only after reopening a previously denied claim.

The Board found no evidence of a current low back disability related to service, including the Southwest Asia Theater.,There is insufficient documentation supporting a relationship between the Veteran's current headaches and service.

The Veteran's claim for an increased rating for his degenerative disc disease and degenerative joint disease of the lumbosacral spine with left sciatica was denied as it did not meet the criteria for a higher evaluation.

The Veteran's recurrent gastrointestinal disorder, lumbosacral spine disorder, hypertension, and prostate disorder were initially manifested during active service. The Board finds that the criteria for service connection have been met.

The Veteran's low back disability is rated at 10 percent prior to July 11, 2011 and denied for a higher rating thereafter. The effective date remains unchanged.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded to obtain additional medical evidence and conduct a new VA examination for his back, neck, and upper extremity radiculopathy disabilities. The claims will be reconsidered based on the new evidence.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for various conditions, including a low back disability, skin and respiratory disorders, TBI, anemia, GI issues, tinnitus, thyroid disorder, and hemorrhoids have been denied. The Board found the evidence did not support service connection for these conditions.

The Veteran's claim for higher evaluation of his service-connected degenerative disc disease of the lumbar spine was denied. The Board found that a 40% rating is warranted on and after June 15, 2013, based on forward flexion limited to less than 30 degrees. However, there were no findings of ankylosis or intervertebral disc syndrome with incapacitating episodes totaling at least 6 weeks over the prior 12 months. The Veteran's claim for TDIU was also denied.

The Board has determined that the correct effective date for service connection of lumbar spondylosis is March 27, 2014, as this was the first date a chronic disorder was medically identified and associated with service-connected hip and knee disabilities.

The Board found that the Veteran's lumbar spine disability did not warrant a rating in excess of 40 percent, and denied entitlement to TDIU as his service-connected disabilities do not preclude substantially gainful employment.

The Board has granted service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, to include PTSD, due to personal assault during service.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's low back disability is not related to his active duty service and therefore denied his claim for service connection.

The Veteran's low back disability, which was initially rated at 20 percent and later increased to 40 percent, is not found to warrant a higher rating prior to April 27, 2015 and from July 1, 2015 forward.

The Veteran's low back disability is currently rated at 10 percent and his neck disability is also rated at 10 percent. The Veteran was granted a temporary total rating for convalescence following surgery on his service-connected low back disability, but the issues of increased ratings remain unresolved.

The Veteran has withdrawn his appeals for increased ratings for lumbosacral spine disability and a higher initial rating for left lower extremity radiculopathy, thus the issues are dismissed.

The Board has restored the Veteran's 40 percent disability rating for his service-connected back disability, effective June 27, 2013. The reduction from 40 to 20 percent was improper due to insufficient consideration of all evidence and failure to determine if there was material improvement in the Veteran's ability to function under ordinary conditions.