Back / lumbar spine Board decisions

The Veteran's claims for service connection for a low back disorder and gynecological disorder with infertility are being remanded to obtain additional medical opinions and to ensure all relevant records have been obtained.

The Veteran is granted a higher rating of 60 percent for his service-connected spontaneous L1 fusion across the anterior vertebral services beneath the anterior longitudinal and the ligament, with arthritis of lumbosacral spine. The Board finds that he meets the criteria for an increased evaluation based on incapacitating episodes with a total duration of at least 6 weeks during the past 12 months.

The Veteran's appeal of his claim for service connection for left ankle pain was dismissed due to the Veteran withdrawing his appeal. The issue of an initial rating higher than 10 percent for lumbar spine degenerative changes is being remanded.

The Board has determined that further development is needed to determine the nature and etiology of the Veteran's neck and low back disabilities, including whether they are related to service or a service-connected disability.

The Board has determined that new and material evidence has been received to reopen the Veteran's claim of service connection for a back disability. The issue now is whether this condition began during or was aggravated by active service.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's sciatica of the right lower extremity is proximately due to his service-connected lumbar spine disability. The Veteran's degenerative arthritis of the lumbar spine warrants a 10 percent evaluation, as it does not result in limitation of forward flexion of the thoracolumbar spine to 60 degrees or less, a combined range of motion of 120 degrees or less, severe guarding severe enough to result in an abnormal gait or abnormal spinal contour such as scoliosis, reversed lordosis or abnormal kyphosis, ankylosis, or incapacitating episodes requiring bedrest and treatment by a physician. The Veteran's hypertension has been manifested by diastolic blood pressure of predominantly between 70 mm and 90 mm, and by systolic pressure predominantly in the 130s and 140s.

The Board has remanded the case due to failure of the Veteran to report for a VA examination scheduled in conjunction with his service connection claims. The appeal is now pending again and will be reconsidered after the Veteran completes the required examination.

The Veteran's degenerative disc disease of the lumbar spine is currently rated at 20 percent, which is the maximum schedular rating available under Diagnostic Codes 5237 and 5243. The appeal for higher ratings is denied.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's cervical and lumbar spine conditions did not begin during active service, nor are they otherwise related to military service. The claims for service connection have been denied.

The Board has ordered a remand for further development due to the need for clarification of the factual premise used in the previous VA medical opinion regarding the etiology of the Veteran's back disability.

The Veteran's cervical spine disability was rated at 10 percent from September 1, 2006 to July 13, 2009. From September 1, 2006, the disability has not been found to warrant a higher rating.

The Veteran's low back disability is rated at 20 percent effective from February 25, 2009. He also has a separate rating for left lower extremity radiculopathy.

The Board found that the Veteran's lumbar spine disability warrants a 20 percent rating, as his forward flexion was greater than 30 degrees but not more than 60 degrees. The reduction in evaluation of right knee from 10% to 0% was proper and restored the 10% rating for the right knee. The Veteran's claim for TDIU is granted.

The Veteran's claim for an increased rating for his low back disability was denied as the evidence did not meet the criteria for a higher schedular rating than 40 percent.

The Veteran's lumbar spine strain with degenerative disc disease and L5 pars defect was granted a 40 percent disability rating effective January 24, 2013. The radiculopathy of the right lower extremity affecting the sciatic nerve and femoral nerve were also granted increased ratings.

The Veteran's low back disability is rated at 40 percent since April 7, 2005. The left foot scar does not warrant a higher rating. The inactive tuberculosis (TB) has been granted but no specific rating or effective date was provided.

The Board has remanded the claim for a new VA opinion to address whether the Veteran's service-connected right and left knee disabilities are aggravating her low back disorder, including considering any additional treatment records since November 2012.

The Board denied service connection for a left wrist disability and low back disability, finding no evidence of in-service injury or disease that could be linked to the current conditions. The Veteran's claim for low back disability is being remanded for additional development.

The Board found no evidence that the Veteran's back disability was related to his military service and denied his claim for service connection.

The Board denied service connection for bilateral hearing loss and a back disability, finding that the Veteran did not have current disabilities meeting VA compensation criteria. For the back condition specifically, the Board determined there was no medical evidence linking it to active military service.