Back / lumbar spine Board decisions

The Board found that the Veteran's low back disability did not have its onset during active service and is not otherwise related to active service, thus denying his claim for service connection.

The Board denied service connection for a low back disability and headaches due to lack of evidence linking these conditions to the Veteran's military service. The VA opinions provided were against the claim, stating that any current low back condition is more likely related to postural factors rather than military service.

The Board found that the Veteran's low back disabilities, other than congenital lumbarization of S1, did not have their onset in service or are otherwise related to his military service. The Board also determined that these conditions were not secondary to his service-connected left flank shrapnel wound.

The Veteran's neck disorder, also claimed as an upper back condition, is being remanded for further development including a VA examination to determine its etiology and whether it is related to service-connected lumbosacral degenerative disc disease.

The Veteran's service connection claims for bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, and various lower extremity conditions are all granted. The Board finds that the Veteran has established a current disability, in-service noise exposure, and continuity of symptoms.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for intervertebral disc syndrome of the thoracolumbar spine has been reopened and granted.,The Veteran's claim for service connection for intervertebral disc syndrome of the cervical spine is also granted.

The Board granted service connection for PTSD, with dysthymia and bilateral pes planus effective March 13, 2009. The Veteran's claims for right knee and left knee disabilities were also granted but assigned an earlier effective date of January 22, 2010.

The Veteran withdrew his claims for a higher initial rating for IVDS and a payment date earlier than February 1, 2010.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining updated VA and private treatment records and scheduling the Veteran for appropriate VA examinations to assess his right knee and lumbar spine disabilities.

The Board finds that the evidence is at least in equipoise as to whether the Veteran's low back disability is secondary to his service-connected left knee disability, and grants service connection for this condition.

The Board found no evidence of a chronic back or knee disability in service, and the earliest clinical evidence is not for more than four decades after separation from service. The Veteran's statements regarding parachute injuries are inconsistent with contemporaneous STRs. Service connection was denied as there is no showing of continuity of symptomatology.

The Veteran's service-connected low back disability and bilateral lower extremity radiculopathy render him incapable of securing or following a substantially gainful occupation.

The Board has determined that further development is needed to address the nature and etiology of the Veteran's skin condition, low back disability, left hip disability, left thigh disability, groin disability, and ripped anal region.

The Board has found that the Veteran's current lumbar spine disability is not related to his military service and therefore denied service connection for this condition. The claim for an increased rating for PTSD remains pending.

The Veteran's claims for higher initial ratings for migraine headaches, DDD of the lumbar spine, and DDD of the cervical spine were denied. The Board found that his symptoms did not meet the criteria for a 50% rating under Diagnostic Code 8100 (migraine headaches) or very frequent prostrating attacks productive of severe economic inadaptability.

The Board has granted an increased rating of 40 percent for the Veteran's service-connected lumbar spine disability, effective from the date of the remand. The Veteran is not rendered unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation due to her service-connected lumbar spine disability alone.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development due to inadequate opinions in a previous VA examination.

The Board denied service connection for micromastia residuals, left foot plantar fasciitis, and shin splints of the right lower extremity. The Veteran's low back strain with bulging disc is rated 20 percent disabling from March 22, 2011 to the present. Her initial rating for right knee disability remains at 10 percent.

The Board has granted service connection for a low back disability as secondary to the Veteran's left knee disability. The Veteran's left knee disability is currently rated at 10 percent.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development due to potential records from a second motorcycle accident in service and an addendum VA medical opinion.