Back / lumbar spine Board decisions

The Board has granted service connection for thoracolumbar arthritis, right hip arthritis, and Hepatitis C based on the evidence being evenly balanced in favor of the Veteran.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for a lumbar spine condition, joint pain (bilateral knee, bilateral arm, and bilateral shoulder), and stomach disorder. The Board found that these conditions were not incurred or aggravated by service.

The Veteran's claimed conditions of hemorrhoids, back disability, and Bell's palsy were not shown to be related to his military service. The Board found that the evidence did not establish continuity of symptomatology since separation from service.

The Board has granted service connection for a back disorder and migraines, but remanded the issue of hypertension due to insufficient evidence.

The Veteran's claim for a lumbar spine disability, as secondary to service-connected cluster migraine headaches, is being remanded due to the failure to report for a scheduled Board hearing. The case will be rescheduled for a video-conference hearing.

The Board found that the Veteran's current low back disability did not manifest during or as a result of military service and thus denied his claim for service connection.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's low back disorder, diagnosed as degenerative disc disease and multilevel arthritis with associated minor to mild lumbar paraspinal muscle strain, is related to his service. As a result, he is now entitled to service connection for this condition.

The Veteran's thoracic spine disability was granted a 60 percent evaluation effective October 22, 2012. The claim for higher evaluations prior to that date remains denied.

The Veteran's low back disability, characterized as degenerative disc disease with mild spondylosis of the lumbar and thoracolumbar junction, is currently rated at 20 percent. The Board found that a higher rating was not warranted based on the evidence provided.

The Veteran's lumbar spine disability, including associated radiculopathy to the sciatic nerve in both lower extremities, is rated at 40 percent since May 19, 2010.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including obtaining private treatment records and providing a VA examination to determine if any current back or right leg disability is related to service.

The Board found no evidence of a nexus between the Veteran's current low back disability and his service, including combat duty as a pilot. The preponderance of the evidence is against the claim.

The Board granted a 40 percent evaluation for lumbosacral strain with degenerative disc disease, effective from May 20, 2008. The Veteran's back disability was found to have increased in severity since the previous evaluations.

The Board denied service connection for multilevel spondylosis of the lumbar spine with degenerative changes, finding that it did not result from military service.

The Board has granted service connection for recurrent lumbar spine disorder and recurrent skin disorders, including tinea of the hands, groin, and feet and rosacea. Service connection for a post-operative right shoulder disorder is remanded.

The Veteran's service-connected back disability rendered him unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation prior to August 21, 2006.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claim of entitlement to TDIU due to inconsistencies in VA examination reports and need for further development.

The Veteran's current back disorder, specifically lumbar spine DDD, is related to an in-service assault injury. The Board finds that service connection for this condition is warranted.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's neck and low back disorders are at least as likely as not related to his military service, including parachute jumps during active duty. Therefore, service connection is granted for both conditions.

The Board finds that the Veteran's current thoracic spine disability, diagnosed as thoracic spondylosis and degenerative disc disease, is not related to service. The evidence does not show a thoracic spine injury or disease during service, nor do chronic symptoms of arthritis since service separation.