Back / lumbar spine Board decisions

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

The Board has remanded the case due to issues related to service connection for psychiatric disorder, skin disability, low back disability, and respiratory disability. The correct service records need to be associated with the Veteran's claims file.

The Board has determined that the Veteran does not have a currently diagnosed low back disorder related to service and therefore denied his claim for service connection.

The Board found no evidence of a permanent aggravation of the Veteran's preexisting lower back disorder during service and concluded that she did not develop any other distinct lower back disorders. The Board also determined that her current headache disorder is unrelated to service.

The Veteran's low back disability warrants a rating of 10 percent prior to June 18, 2009, a rating of 20 percent from June 18, 2009, to November 24, 2009, and a 40 percent rating effective November 25, 2009, for functional impairment of the spine and a separate rating of 10 percent from November 25, 2013, for radiculopathy involving the right lower extremity.

The Veteran's cervical spine disability is found to be secondary to his service-connected lumbar spine disability. The Board granted a higher initial rating for the Veteran's degenerative disc disease of the lumbar spine and left lower extremity radiculopathy, with an effective date prior to December 13, 2010.

The Board found no evidence to support service connection for a back disability and denied the claim. For sinusitis, the Veteran's current condition is not shown to be related to his service, and he does not meet the criteria for an increased rating.

The Board denied service connection for a low back disability and granted service connection for bilateral foot disability. The Veteran's current bilateral foot disability is considered direct service connection.

The Board denied service connection for a back disability, bilateral foot disability, and hypertension on a direct basis. The current decision addresses secondary service connection for these conditions.

The Veteran's lumbar spine disability was manifested by pain, but did not result in forward flexion being limited to 30 degrees or less, unfavorable ankylosis, or incapacitating episodes during the period from January 24, 2011 to October 24, 2014.

The Veteran's left wrist ganglion cyst resulted in pain and limited motion, warranting a 10 percent rating. The ankle disability was rated at 10 percent for moderate limitation of motion. Both back and neck disabilities were also rated at 10 percent.

The Veteran's combined disability evaluation was at least 70% prior to July 28, 2015. The evidence does not show he is unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation due to his service-connected disabilities.

The Board has remanded the case due to incomplete records and further development is needed, including obtaining deck logs for the USS Thomaston in March 1975.

The Veteran's headaches and fatigue/sleep disturbance are found to be secondary to an undiagnosed illness, while the right knee condition is granted a 10 percent evaluation effective from June 1, 2009.

The Veteran's claim for a higher rating for his service-connected low back disability was denied. The RO continued the initial 20 percent rating assigned in December 2004.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for a lumbar spine disability, to include a neoplasm of the lumbar spine, has been reopened and is granted.,Service connection is denied for hyperostosis (excessive growth of the bone).,Service connection is denied for osteoporosis (to include osteopenia).,Service connection is denied for right hip disability, to include a neoplasm and/or trochanteric bursitis.,Service connection is denied for limitation of motion of the right leg (also claimed as osteoarthritis of right knee).,Service connection is denied for viral syndrome, to include chronic fatigue syndrome.,Service connection is denied for polyarthralgia.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities have rendered him unable to secure and maintain substantially gainful employment, and the Board has granted a TDIU based on this finding.

The Board finds that the evidence does not support a finding of service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder or a low back disability.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for further development, including obtaining Voc-Rehab records and an examination to assess his occupational impairment due to service-connected disabilities.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining an opinion on his ability to secure and follow a substantially gainful occupation due to his service-connected disabilities.