Back / lumbar spine Board decisions

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The Board found that the Veteran's current low back disability is not related to service, including his in-service injuries. The VA examiners concluded that the Veteran's symptoms are more likely due to age-related degenerative changes rather than a connection to service.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's low back disability, diagnosed as degenerative arthritis of the thoracolumbar spine, is related to an in-service injury and grants service connection for this condition.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development due to inadequate VA medical opinions regarding whether the Veteran's lumbar spine disorder is related to his service-connected right knee disability.

The Veteran's major depressive disorder has been rated at 50 percent since October 2007, and his low back disability has been rated at 40 percent since February 3, 2003. Both conditions have been granted effective from January 24, 2007.

The Veteran's claim for an effective date earlier than March 13, 2009 for service connection for degenerative disc disease (DDD) of the cervical spine with fusion and retained hardware from C3-4, C 4-7, and C7 to T2 was denied. The Board found that no document prior to March 13, 2009 could be construed as a claim for service connection for this condition.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, a low back disability, leg cramps, and a bilateral leg disability. The decision found that there was no clear and unmistakable evidence of pre-service existence for leg cramps and that the right knee meniscus tear and bilateral knee degenerative joint disease were not related to service-connected conditions.

The Veteran's lumbar spine disability is currently rated at 40 percent disabling, effective April 30, 2009. The Veteran's sciatica of the bilateral lower extremities are each rated at 10 percent disabling.

The Board has granted service connection for the Veteran's right knee disability as secondary to his service-connected left knee disabilities. The lumbar spine and right lower extremity neurological disabilities are not found to be related to service or due to service-connected left knee disabilities.

The Board has remanded the case due to incomplete records and requests for additional evidence. The Veteran's claims for service connection are pending.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining VA treatment records and arranging for a VA examination to assess his lower back disability. The claims will be readjudicated after the additional development.

The Board has determined that additional evidence is needed to fully and fairly consider the claim for service connection for low back disorder, including records from before and after the Veteran's left testicle removal surgery in October 2002. The case will be remanded for further development.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development and medical inquiry, including obtaining SSA records, prison records, and VA examinations.

The Veteran's DDD of the cervical spine with reversed lordosis and IVDS is rated at 30 percent, effective November 20, 2014. His radiculopathy of the right upper extremity is rated at 40 percent, also effective November 20, 2014.

The Veteran's lumbar spine disability has been rated at 40 percent effective December 9, 2015. The rating is based on the presence of forward flexion to 10 degrees.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's lumbosacral spine disability and osteoarthritis of the left knee are not related to her military service, and thus denied these claims.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining medical records and scheduling a VA examination to assess the severity of his lumbar spine disability. The TDIU claim will also be considered.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining treatment records and providing updated medical opinions regarding his sleep apnea and thoracolumbar spine disability.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining updated employment information and VA treatment records. A VA examination will be conducted to determine if the Veteran's service-connected disabilities prevent him from securing or maintaining substantially gainful employment.

The Veteran's lumbar DDD with bulging disc disability is currently rated at 20 percent, and the evidence does not support a higher rating.