Back / lumbar spine Board decisions

The Board has remanded the case for further development due to incomplete medical opinions regarding service connection for a cervical spine disability.

The Veteran's claim for increased ratings for degenerative disc disease, spinal stenosis status post diskectomy surgery was denied. The RO granted a 40 percent rating effective March 28, 2012.

The Veteran's low back disability is rated at 20 percent, and his bilateral knee and foot disabilities are each rated at 10 percent.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings of his cervical spine, lumbar spine, and left foot disabilities were denied. The Veteran was granted a noncompensable rating for the post-operative residuals of hallux valgus with hammer toe of the left foot.

The Board has determined that the Veteran does not have a current low back disability, right thumb disability, or psychiatric disability for which service connection can be granted. The claims are therefore denied.

The Board found that the Veteran's current low back disability is not related to service, and thus denied his claim for service connection.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including a new VA examination and the provision of outstanding medical records.

The Board finds that the Veteran's diagnoses of lumbago, thoracolumbar strain, disc desiccation at L4-L5, and degenerative changes at L5-S1 are in relative equipoise with respect to whether they are etiologically related to service. As such, service connection is granted for a thoracic or lumbar spine disability.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for post-operative residuals of lumbar spine disorder, diabetes mellitus, an acquired mental disorder (presumably including cognitive disorder NOS and depressive disorder NOS), seizure disorder, right ear hearing loss, left ear hearing loss, tinnitus, and bilateral knee disability. The claim for service connection for a right ear hearing loss was denied as the Veteran's hearing did not meet VA criteria for hearing loss. The claims for an increased rating for bilateral knee disability and entitlement to TDIU were also denied.

The Board has granted the Veteran's petition to reopen his previously denied claim for service connection for lumbar spine DDD and has determined that a nexus exists between the in-service injury and the current disability. The Veteran is now entitled to service connection for lumbar spine DDD and degenerative changes.

The Board found that there is no evidence of a nexus between the Veteran's current low back disability and his service, including any in-service injury or event. The VA examiners concluded that the Veteran's degenerative disc disease and joint disease are not related to his service-connected postoperative residuals of a pilonidal cyst.

The Board found that the Veteran's thoracolumbar spine disorder did not become manifest during service or within one year of separation, and is not shown to be etiologically related to service or a service-connected disability.

The Veteran's low back disability was not incurred in or caused by service.,Prior to June 17, 2014, the Veteran's right leg deep vein thrombosis has been characterized by persistent edema and stasis pigmentation without ulceration. On and after June 17, 2014, the disability is characterized by moderate varicosities and minimal hyperpigmentation.

The Board has denied service connection for a heart murmur and the residuals of an in-service fracture of the L-1 transverse process. The Veteran's heart murmur was present before his military service, and there is no evidence that it increased in severity during service. For the lower back disability, while the Veteran sustained injuries to his back during service, there is no indication that these injuries resulted in current residuals.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for a right hip disability, including as secondary to his service-connected lumbar spine and sciatic nerve paralysis disabilities, is being remanded for additional development.

Your claim for service connection for a lumbar spine disorder has been resolved in your favor and granted effective March 23, 2010. As such, the issue is no longer in dispute.

The Board has remanded the case for further development, including obtaining updated VA treatment records and scheduling a VA examination to evaluate the Veteran's right ankle disability. The claim for TDIU is also being remanded.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development due to conflicting statements in the examiner's report regarding the relationship between the Veteran's current back disability and her service.

The Veteran is seeking service connection for a lumbar spine disability, which he claims is related to his service-connected bilateral pes planus. The Board has remanded the case for additional development and an addendum opinion regarding whether the pes planus aggravates the lumbar spine disability.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for a back disability, finding that there was no evidence of a chronic condition during service and insufficient medical evidence linking his current disabilities to an in-service injury.