Back / lumbar spine Board decisions

The Board has determined that the Veteran's current diagnosed lumbar degenerative disc disease is etiologically related to service, and therefore grants service connection for this condition.

The Board has determined that additional development is needed to properly adjudicate the Veteran's claims, including obtaining medical records and conducting a VA examination.

The Board has determined that the Veteran does not have a current right knee, right ankle, left knee, or left ankle disorder and therefore cannot establish service connection for these conditions.

The Board has remanded the case due to an incomplete adjudication of a petition for CUE in the December 2001 denial of service connection, and will now consider whether new and material evidence supports reopening the claim.

The Board has determined that new and material evidence has been received to reopen the Veteran's claims for service connection of his neck and low back disabilities, which were previously denied in February 1971 and May 1972 respectively. The claim is now reopened.

The Board has determined that additional development is needed to determine the Veteran's service in the Republic of Vietnam and to obtain relevant medical records. The claims will be remanded for these purposes.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for various conditions, including hearing loss and PTSD, were denied. The Board found that the evidence did not support a finding of in-service noise exposure or stressors sufficient to establish service connection.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claim for service connection of an acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD, and a back disability due to lack of in-service injury or disease. The case is also remanded for additional development regarding the nature and etiology of any current psychiatric disorders.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for lower back disorder, right knee disorder, and left knee disorder. The effective date of service connection for PTSD was granted on August 23, 2012.

The Veteran's claims for clothing allowances due to wear and tear caused by back braces and left knee braces have been denied as the Veteran is not service connected for these conditions.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's current lumbar spine disability, characterized as low back pain with degenerative disc disease/degenerative joint disease of the lumbar spine, was not incurred in or aggravated by service. The evidence does not support a finding that the Veteran had chronic back disorder during service or within one year following discharge from service.

The Board has determined that the Veteran does not have a current low back or left knee disability, and therefore service connection for these conditions is denied.

The Veteran's lumbar degenerative disc disease and spondylosis are currently rated at 20 percent, which is the maximum rating available under the applicable diagnostic codes. The Board finds that the evidence does not support a higher evaluation.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's status-post lumbar fusion with residual chronic low back pain was not incurred in or aggravated by service, and therefore denied his claim for service connection.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's current low back disability was not incurred or aggravated by service and is not related to any in-service injury. The VA examiner found no evidence of a link between the Veteran's current condition and his military service.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's low back and knee disabilities are not service-connected.,The evidence does not establish a direct relationship between the current low back and knee conditions and active service.

The Veteran's initial rating for his cervical spine disability remains at 10 percent, as the evidence does not show any additional functional loss or impairment that would warrant a higher rating.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's DDD of the thoracolumbar spine warrants an extraschedular rating of 10 percent, effective from March 10, 2014.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's claimed low back, right knee, left knee, and hemorrhoid disabilities are not related to his active service. The evidence does not support a finding of in-service incurrence or aggravation of these conditions.

The Veteran's claims were granted, with increased ratings for his service-connected disabilities. The initial ratings assigned are within the range of disability severity as determined by VA rating criteria.