Back / lumbar spine Board decisions

The Board has determined that the Veteran's cervical and lumbar spine disabilities are related to his military service, with reasonable doubt resolved in favor of the Veteran. The VA examiner concluded that these conditions were more likely than not caused by injuries sustained during service.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not render him so helpless as to need regular aid and attendance of another person, nor does he require assistance in attending to the ordinary hazards of daily living. The Board finds that there is insufficient evidence to grant special monthly pension based on the need for aid and attendance.

The Board found that the submitted evidence does not relate to an unestablished fact, is cumulative and redundant of evidence previously of record, and does not raise a reasonable possibility of substantiating any claim. Therefore, the claims for service connection were denied.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including new VA examinations and consideration of his TDIU claim.

The Veteran's appeal has been withdrawn by his representative prior to the Board making a decision.

The Veteran's claims for reopening service connection for neck and low back conditions are being remanded due to the need for additional development, including obtaining SSA records and a VA examination.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities meet the schedular requirement for assignment of a TDIU and are reasonably shown to render him unable to secure and follow a substantial gainful occupation.

The Veteran's service-connected lumbar spine intervertebral disc disease and degenerative joint disease are currently rated at 40 percent, but the evidence does not support a higher rating as there is no unfavorable ankylosis of the entire thoracolumbar spine.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's thoracolumbar scoliosis, intervertebral disc syndrome of the lumbar spine, and degenerative arthritis changes are related to his preexisting condition during service and have been aggravated by it. As such, the appeal is granted.

The Veteran seeks service connection for low back disability. The Board has determined that a new VA examination is needed to determine the current nature and etiology of any claimed back disability, as well as whether it is related to service.

The Board has determined that the Veteran does not have a back disability that was caused by service, and therefore denied her claim for service connection.

The Veteran's lumbar spine disability is rated at 40 percent, and his left ankle disability is rated at 20 percent. The claims for extraschedular ratings and TDIU are addressed in the REMAND portion of this decision.

The Board has determined that the Veteran does not have a back disability that was caused by service, and therefore denied her claim for service connection.

Service connection for a low back disorder is denied as the evidence does not establish that it was incurred in or aggravated by service.,Service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, specifically anxiety disorder, is granted based on continuity of symptomatology since service separation.

The Veteran's claim for a higher rating for her service-connected lumbar spine disability was denied, as the evidence did not show ankylosis or other criteria warranting a higher rating. Separate ratings for lower extremity radiculopathy were also denied.

The Board has decided to remand the case for additional development, including obtaining a medical opinion and identifying any outstanding VA and non-VA treatment records.

The Veteran's lumbar spine disability was evaluated and found not to meet the criteria for a higher rating, and his TDIU claim was granted. Separate ratings were denied.

The Veteran's claimed joint pain, calcaneal spurs, bilateral degenerative joint disease of the first metatarsophalangeal joints, knee strain and right elbow epicondylitis are not shown to be causally or etiologically related to his military service. The Board finds that these conditions were diagnosed after discharge from service.

The Veteran's left knee chondromalacia has been rated at 20 percent since November 1992. The Board finds that the evidence does not support a higher rating for this condition.

The Board found that a chronic thoracolumbar spine disability was neither incurred in nor aggravated by service and denied the claim. The acquired psychiatric disability, including PTSD and MDD, is also denied as there is no evidence of a nexus to service.