Back / lumbar spine Board decisions

The Board has determined that new and material evidence has been received to reopen the Veteran's claim for service connection for a back condition. The Board finds that the Veteran's current low back disability, diagnosed as circumferential bulging disc at L4-5 and lumbar lordotic straightening, is related to his active duty service.

The Board has remanded the case for further development due to conflicting medical opinions and additional evidence.

The Veteran's service-connected low back strain was manifested by no more than subjective complaints of pain, occasionally radiating to the lower extremities with numbness, and decreased range of motion. The Board found that an evaluation in excess of 20 percent is not warranted.

The Veteran withdrew his appeal regarding the claim of entitlement to an increased rating for low back disability, and his representative also filed a motion to dismiss. As such, the Board has dismissed the appeal.

The Veteran withdrew their appeal for an increased rating of the service-connected lumbar spine disability.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for further development, including obtaining medical records and scheduling a VA examination to determine the nature and etiology of his claimed disabilities.

The Board has requested a new VA examination to determine if the Veteran's current low back disability is related to service, including her diagnosed lumbar disc herniation in 2004. The case will be remanded for this purpose.

The Board granted service connection for a low back disability, finding that the Veteran's current condition is related to his active service. The appeal regarding bilateral hearing loss was dismissed due to withdrawal by the Veteran during the July 2014 hearing.

The Veteran's lumbar myalgia is rated at 20 percent since January 27, 2014. Service connection for rhinitis and an acquired psychiatric disability (including PTSD and generalized anxiety disorder) are granted. The muscle ache disability claim is denied.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for increased ratings for his service-connected right lower extremity cellulitis with superficial phlebitis, left lower extremity cellulitis with superficial phlebitis, COPD, and lumbar spine degenerative disc disease.

The Board has determined that there is no credible and competent evidence linking the Veteran's lumbar spine disability to his active or reserve service, and thus denied the claim for service connection.

The Veteran's cervical spine degenerative changes have been rated at 10 percent since October 1, 2009. The VA examiner found full range of motion and no additional limitation due to pain or fatigue.,For the thoracic scoliosis and DDD, the Veteran has a combined ROM of 240 degrees, which is below the threshold for a higher rating under Diagnostic Code 5242 (degenerative arthritis of the spine). The examiner did not find any additional limitation due to pain or fatigue.

The Board has granted the Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral lower extremity sciatica/lumbar radiculopathy and bilateral upper extremity cervical radiculopathy, finding that these conditions are secondary to his service-connected lumbar spine and cervical spine disorders. The claim for service connection for bilateral carpal tunnel syndrome is remanded.

The Veteran's thoracolumbar spine disability is currently rated at 10 percent, the minimum rating available under VA regulations. The Board finds that his range of motion does not warrant a higher evaluation due to pain and other functional limitations.

The Veteran's claim for a rating in excess of 10 percent for cervical spondylosis with degenerative disc disease is being remanded due to the need to obtain outstanding Social Security Administration (SSA) records and reissue the supplemental statement of the case.

The Veteran's claims for higher evaluations for his cervical and lumbar spine disorders have been denied.,Higher ratings are not warranted as the evidence does not show that the Veteran's conditions meet or approximate the criteria for a next higher rating under any applicable diagnostic code.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for headaches, stress fracture of the lumbar spine and thoracic spine, photosensitivity, and vertigo have been granted. The claim for increased rating for a lumbar spine disability remains pending. A TDIU has also been granted.

The Board has remanded the case for further development, including a new VA examination and consideration of additional medical records. The Veteran's claim will be reconsidered based on this new evidence.

The Veteran does not have current diagnoses of left ankle, cervical spine, or lumbar spine disorders. The Board finds the evidence against a finding that these conditions are related to service.

The Veteran's thoracic/lumbar levoscoliosis with spondylosis and degenerative disc space narrowing is rated at 20 percent, effective from November 25, 2009. The right lower extremity radiculopathy of the sciatic nerve is rated at 10 percent, effective from August 4, 2015. The left lower extremity radiculopathy of the sciatic nerve is rated at 10 percent, also effective from August 4, 2015.