Back / lumbar spine Board decisions

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including obtaining medical opinions and private treatment records. The Veteran's right knee and back disabilities are being reviewed to determine if they are related to service.

The Veteran's claim for a rating in excess of 10 percent for degenerative arthritis of the lumbar spine, with intervertebral disc syndrome is being remanded due to the need for additional examination and development.

The Board found that the Veteran's hypertension was not incurred in or related to his service, and he did not have ischemic heart disease. The cause of death due to hypertension with possible cardiac involvement is also denied.

The Veteran's claim for an increased evaluation of his service-connected lumbar spine disability is being remanded due to the need for a new VA examination and consideration of additional evidence.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's service-connected disabilities render him unable to secure and maintain substantially gainful employment, thus granting his claim for a total disability rating based on individual unemployability.

The Board has determined that additional development is needed to obtain the Veteran's complete service treatment records and personnel records. The case will be remanded for this purpose.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for his right shoulder, lumbar spine DDD, and right lower extremity radiculopathy have been granted. The Veteran is currently assigned a 20 percent rating for each condition.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for a low back disability is being remanded due to the need for additional development and an addendum opinion from the VA examiner.

The Veteran's degenerative disc disease of the thoracolumbar spine is currently rated at 20 percent, but his symptoms indicate a need for a higher rating. The Board has determined that he should be assigned a 40 percent disability rating.

The Board found no evidence of a low back injury during service and concluded that the current low back disorder is not related to active duty. The claim for service connection was denied.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including a VA medical examination to evaluate the severity of the veteran's service-connected low back disability. The appeal is pending and will be reconsidered after the additional development.

The Veteran's low back strain is currently rated at 40 percent disabling, which is the maximum schedular rating available. The Board finds no basis to grant a higher rating.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's claimed left knee and low back disabilities are not related to service, and thus denied his claims for service connection.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for a back disorder and an increased rating for his right ankle fracture residuals with DJD, finding that the evidence did not support granting either claim.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, a lumbar spine disorder, and traumatic brain injury (TBI), finding that there was no evidence of a chronic disability in service or within one year after separation from service. The weight of the evidence did not support a link between any current conditions and military service.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's right knee osteoarthritis and chronic lumbar strain with left lumbar radiculopathy are causally related to his service-connected left knee, foot, and ankle disabilities. As such, these conditions have been granted as secondary to those service-connected disabilities.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's lumbar spine and shoulder disabilities were not incurred or aggravated by service, and therefore denied these claims.

The Veteran's mechanical low back pain with degenerative changes at L5-S1 has not met the criteria for a rating in excess of 20 percent, as it does not meet the requirements for forward flexion limited to 30 degrees or less, favorable ankylosis of the entire thoracolumbar spine, or intervertebral disc syndrome (IVDS) with incapacitating episodes having a total duration of at least 4 weeks but less than 6 weeks during the past 12 months.

The Veteran's low back disability is currently rated as 10 percent disabling. The Board finds no evidence of ankylosis or neurological impairment, and the Veteran has not retained more than 30 degrees of forward flexion and 120 degrees of combined range of motion of the thoracolumbar spine throughout the appeal period. Therefore, a higher rating is not warranted.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's current lumbar spine disability is not related to his military service and therefore denied his claim for service connection.