Back / lumbar spine Board decisions

The Board has reopened the claims for service connection for back and left knee disabilities, but the case is being remanded to obtain updated treatment records and a VA examination.

The Board finds that the Veteran's current diagnosis of arthritis of the thoracolumbar spine with lumbar strain is related to service, and grants service connection for this condition.

The Veteran's service-connected low back disability does not preclude him from obtaining and maintaining substantially gainful employment.

The Veteran's service-connected degenerative disc disease of the lumbar spine is currently rated at 20 percent, and there is no evidence to support a higher rating based on current medical findings.

The Veteran's claim for PTSD was reopened and granted service connection. The right arm disorder claim is not established, but the rating for residuals of excision was restored to 50%. Other claims were either granted or denied.

The Veteran's headaches, rated at 50 percent disabling from November 30, 2009 to January 1, 2014, have been found to be severe enough to cause significant effects on his occupation as a self-employed auctioneer. The Board has granted an initial disability rating of 50 percent for headaches during this period.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for a back disorder, finding that his current condition did not pre-exist his period of active duty service and was not aggravated by any service-connected conditions.

The Board found that the Veteran's low back disability was not incurred in service and denied his claim.

The Veteran's TDIU claim is granted from October 16, 2006 due to his service-connected disabilities resulting in a combined rating of at least 60 percent.

The Veteran's low back disability, characterized by limited flexion to 30 degrees during flare-ups, warrants a 40 percent initial rating from March 5, 2004.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's low back disability, degenerative joint disease of the lumbar spine, is related to her active military service and grants service connection for this condition.

The Board has granted service connection for a back disorder, and the claims for gynecological disorders and right-sided sciatica are remanded for additional development.

The Veteran withdrew his claims of entitlement to ratings in excess of 10 percent for a lumbar spine disability and a left knee disability prior to the Board's decision.

The Veteran's lumbar spine disability has been rated at 10 percent prior to August 19, 2010 and at 20 percent from August 19, 2010 to August 4, 2015. The right knee strain has been rated at 10 percent.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development due to incomplete medical records and further examination.

The Board has reopened the claim of service connection for a low back disability and granted it on de novo review, finding that the Veteran's current low back disability is related to his in-service episodes of low back pain.,Regarding hepatitis C, the Veteran withdrew his appeal prior to the Board making a decision.

The Veteran's low back pain and degenerative disc disease are found to be related to his active duty service in Southwest Asia, and the claim for service connection is granted.

The Veteran's prostate cancer residuals have been granted a 40% evaluation effective January 30, 2014. The lumbar spine disability claim has been reopened.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's degenerative disc disease from L3 to S1 was caused by her service-connected bilateral knee and right ankle disabilities, and thus grants service connection for this condition.

The Board has decided to remand the case for additional development, including obtaining missing service treatment records and medical records from the Shreveport VA medical center. The Veteran's claim for service connection for a back disorder will be reconsidered after these steps.