Back / lumbar spine Board decisions

The Board found that the Veteran's cervical spine disorder was not incurred in or aggravated by active service and denied his claim.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's cervical and lumbar spine disabilities are related to his active duty service, with doubt resolved in favor of the Veteran.

The Veteran is seeking service connection for a back disability, to include as secondary to his service-connected right knee and left knee disabilities. The Board has decided that additional development is needed due to the need for an opinion regarding whether the Veteran's current back disability is caused or aggravated by his service-connected right and/or left knee disabilities.

The Veteran's reactive airway disease is rated at 30 percent effective October 25, 2013. His musculoskeletal strain of the lumbosacral spine remains rated at 20 percent. The Veteran's ACL deficiency of the left knee is rated at 10 percent from January 2, 2007 to March 13, 2007.

The Board found that the Veteran's lumbar spondylolysis did not meet the criteria for a higher disability rating, thus denying his claim for an initial rating in excess of 10 percent.

The Board found that the Veteran's current left knee, right knee, and low back disabilities are not related to his military service. The evidence does not show any chronic conditions in service or within one year of separation from service.

The Veteran's low back disability is found to be incurred during service.,The Veteran's facial scar is found to be incurred during service.

The Board has granted an effective date of March 2, 2012 for the assignment of a 20 percent disability rating for a scar of the right knee. The Veteran's claim was not reopened as he did not submit new and material evidence to reopen his previously denied low back disability claim.

The Board has determined that a remand is necessary to provide the Veteran with additional VA examinations and obtain outstanding medical records. The primary issues are whether any current right ankle disability had its onset in or was caused by active service, including an automobile accident during service, and whether it is at least as likely as not aggravated by a service-connected left ankle disability.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for a bilateral foot disorder was reopened, and he is now entitled to a TDIU based on his service-connected back disability. The Veteran has been unable to work due to his service-connected disabilities.

The Veteran's service-connected lumbar degenerative disc disease status post decompression of L3-L4 and stabilization of L3 to L5 was not found to warrant higher initial evaluations from May 29, 1997 to September 25, 2003 or from September 26, 2003 to November 21, 2013.

The Veteran's claims for service connection and increased rating were denied. The Board found no evidence of a right knee disorder in service or within one year following separation, and concluded that the current right knee disability is not related to his service-connected low back condition.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for a low back disability and an initial compensable rating for a residual left leg scar, finding that there is no evidence of a current disability related to his service or any incident therein.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claim for a rating in excess of 40 percent for degenerative disc disease with radiculopathy of the left lower extremity.

The Board has denied service connection for postoperative degenerative disc disease (DDD) of the lumbar spine and numbness of the legs, finding that there is no credible evidence linking these conditions to service.

The Veteran's arthritis of the low back is currently rated at 20 percent, effective March 1, 2010. The rating remains granted.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including obtaining VA treatment records and providing an addendum medical opinion to determine if the Veteran's current low back disorder is related to his military service.

The Veteran's low back strain has been rated at 20 percent since May 11, 2010 to January 27, 2011 and from March 1, 2011 to July 29, 2014. The rating is based on symptoms resulting in an altered gait without ankylosis of the spine or flexion functionally limited to 30 degrees or less.

The Veteran's lumbar strain was rated at 20 percent prior to February 6, 2010. From February 6, 2010 through December 21, 2014, the Veteran's disability was rated as 40 percent. Since then, it has been rated as 20 percent.,The Veteran is entitled to a TDIU prior to February 12, 2014 and from February 12, 2014 through December 21, 2014. From December 22, 2014 onward, the Veteran is also entitled to a TDIU.,The decision grants all of these claims.

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