Back / lumbar spine Board decisions

The Board has granted a 60 percent rating for residuals of renal trauma from August 3, 2006 to May 17, 2010 and a 100 percent rating from May 18, 2010 to November 9, 2011. The Veteran is also granted TDIU.

The Board denied service connection for lumbar spine disorder and bilateral knee disorder, finding that the conditions were not incurred in active military service.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's diagnosed back conditions are not related to his service, and any current condition is not proximately due to or aggravated by a service-connected disease or injury.

The Board found that the Veteran's currently diagnosed low back disability is not etiologically related to an in-service fall, and therefore denied service connection for a back disorder.

The Board finds the evidence is evenly balanced regarding whether the Veteran's cervical spine degenerative arthritis and degenerative disc disease are proximately due to his service-connected lumbosacral spine disability. The Veteran meets the current disability requirement, and his assertions support a finding that his neck disabilities developed as a result of compensating for back pain.

The Veteran's claim for an increased rating for his service-connected lumbosacral strain with radiculopathy was denied, as the evidence did not show that he met the criteria for a higher rating prior to July 24, 2008. As of July 24, 2008, the Veteran's condition warranted a 20% disability rating.

The Board has granted service connection for lumbar scoliosis and secondary service connection for degenerative disc disease and spondylosis of the thoracolumbar spine, finding that these conditions are related to his in-service injury.

The Board has remanded the case for further development, including a VA examination to address the nature and etiology of the Veteran's lumbar and cervical spine conditions. The claim will be adjudicated again based on the additional evidence.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for a left knee disability and low back disability, both secondary to his service-connected right knee disability. The Veteran was not granted new evidence to reopen his left knee claim, and his low back disability was found not to be proximately due or the result of his service-connected right knee disability.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's varicose veins did not have a clinical onset in service and are not otherwise related to active duty. The claim of service connection for a back disability is addressed in the REMAND portion of this decision.

The Board is remanding the case to obtain additional service records and conduct a VA examination to determine if the Veteran's current back disability is related to his in-service service, including any injury or pain he experienced.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for various conditions, including respiratory disorder, vision disorder, back disability, sarcoidosis manifestations, heart disorder, diabetes mellitus, autoimmune disease, sleep apnea, black outs, and bilateral hearing loss. The evidence did not meet the criteria for direct service connection.

The Board has determined that the VA examination in June 2013 is inadequate and requires a new examination to determine if the Veteran currently has a low back disorder, whether it preexisted service, and its relationship to service.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral pes planus, lumbar spine disorder, and cervical spine disorder. The decision found that pre-existing bilateral pes planus was not aggravated by service.

The Veteran's DDD of the lumbar spine was manifested by no more than normal range of motion with subjective reports of painful motion, tenderness and stiffness on a constant basis for the period prior to March 27, 2012. The Board found that this did not meet the criteria for an initial compensable rating.

The Veteran's hypertension is granted service connection. The left knee extension rating is reduced to noncompensable, effective June 1, 2010. The right knee extension and instability ratings are maintained at 60 percent each, effective August 2009. The lumbar spine disorder is rated at 40 percent since December 2009.

The Board has reopened the previously denied claim of service connection for a low back disorder and granted it, finding that new evidence supports the claim.,Service connection was also granted for a left knee disorder as secondary to service-connected disabilities.

The Veteran's PTSD is rated at 100 percent disabling from January 8, 2011. The claim for service connection of a lumbar spine disability has been reopened and the evidence received since the August 1996 rating decision relates to the basis for the prior denial.

The Veteran's low back disability is being remanded for additional development, including a VA examination and obtaining treatment records. The appeal will be reconsidered after these actions.

The Board has determined that new and material evidence has been received to reopen the claim of service connection for a low back disability. However, after reviewing all available evidence, including VA examinations and treatment records, the Board finds that there is no competent medical evidence linking the Veteran's current low back disability to his active duty service or any incident therein. The right ankle disability was not manifested during service or within one year of separation from service, and there is insufficient evidence to establish a connection between the current condition and service.