Back / lumbar spine Board decisions

The Board denied the Veteran's claims of service connection for lumbar and cervical spine disorders, finding no new and material evidence to reopen the claims.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's thoracic and lumbar spine disabilities are related to his military service, with reasonable doubt resolved in favor of the Veteran.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded due to the need for additional development and consideration of new evidence.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's current low back disability was not incurred during his active service and is unrelated to any in-service injury. As such, the claim for service connection is denied.

The Board found that the Veteran's low back, left hip, and left ankle disabilities are not service-connected as secondary to his right knee disability. The VA examiners provided opinions indicating these conditions were more likely caused by non-service connected factors such as leg length discrepancy from a previous femur fracture.

The Veteran's appeal of the denial of his claim for a rating in excess of 40 percent for lumbar spine degenerative disc disease from November 13, 2014, has been dismissed due to his withdrawal of the appeal.

The Board found that the Veteran's low back disability was not incurred in or related to service, and denied his claim for service connection.

The Veteran's claim for a higher rating for his low back disability was denied. The Board awarded a 40 percent rating in March 2017, but the appeal remains before the Board as less than the maximum schedular benefit was granted.

The Board found that the Veteran's arthritis of multiple joints (cervical and thoracolumbar spine) is not related to service, thus denying his claim for service connection.

The Veteran's lumbar strain is currently rated at 40 percent, effective from July 24, 2015. The Board finds that the evidence supports a higher rating for his service-connected lumbar strain.

The Veteran's chronic mechanical low back syndrome was caused by his service-connected bilateral knee disabilities, and the Board has granted service connection for this condition.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities have not prevented him from securing or following substantially gainful employment.

The Board has vacated the portion of the August 2017 Board decision denying service connection for a back disorder and reviews the claim de novo. The Veteran is not entitled to service connection as her current back disorder did not manifest within one year of separation from service, continuity since separation was not established, and it is less likely than not that the disability is proximately due to or aggravated by a previously service-connected condition.

The Veteran's claim for special monthly pension based on the need for aid and attendance of another person or being housebound is denied as he does not meet the criteria for either benefit.

The Veteran's ddd of the lumbar spine was rated at 10 percent prior to May 5, 2014 and at 60 percent since then. The Board found no evidence supporting a higher rating for any period.,TDIU was denied as the Veteran's service-connected disabilities did not prevent him from securing or following a substantially gainful occupation prior to February 28, 2014.

The Board found that the Veteran's current back disorder did not have its onset during active service, was not continuous since service, and is not otherwise related to active service. Therefore, the claim for service connection for a back disorder has been denied.

The Board finds sufficient evidence to support the Veteran's claims for service connection for degenerative arthritis of the lumbar spine and a psychiatric disorder, with the latter being related to his service-connected lumbar spine disability. The Veteran is also granted service connection for bilateral lower extremity sciatica.

The Board found that the Veteran's lumbar spine disability is not caused or aggravated by his service-connected bilateral frozen foot disability, and thus denied the claim for secondary service connection.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's back disability is not etiologically related to his active service. There is no evidence of a chronic back disability present in service or within one year following discharge, and the most probative evidence does not relate the current condition to service.

The Board denied service connection for bilateral pes planus, knee disability, low back disability, and lower leg disability due to lack of evidence showing these conditions were incurred or aggravated by military service.