Back / lumbar spine Board decisions

The Veteran's right and left knee disabilities are now service-connected as they were incurred during active duty.,Service connection for the low back disability is denied due to lack of evidence linking it to service.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded due to the failure to appear at a previously scheduled videoconference hearing. The case will be returned for further action.

The Veteran does not have a lumbar spine disorder that was incurred or aggravated in service, and no such disorder may be presumed to have been incurred therein.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's lumbar spine and left knee disabilities were not incurred or aggravated by service, as there is no evidence of chronic conditions during service or within one year after separation. The most recent onset of symptoms was noted many years post-service.

The Veteran's service-connected lumbar spine disability prevents him from securing and following substantially gainful employment.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining an addendum opinion from a VA examiner regarding the etiology of his erectile dysfunction.

The Veteran's claim for a higher rating for his lumbar disc disease was denied as the evidence did not show unfavorable ankylosis of the entire thoracolumbar spine or incapacitating episodes of disc disease and/or additional separately ratable neurological manifestations.

The Veteran's DJD of the thoracolumbar spine with IVDS involving the lateral femoral cutaneous nerve is currently rated at 40 percent from October 7, 2014.

The Veteran's low back disability, characterized by spondylolisthesis of the lumbar spine, has not met the criteria for a rating in excess of 20 percent at any point during the appeal period.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded due to the need for clarification on the extent of his service-connected low back disability and additional development of evidence.

The Veteran's service-connected degenerative disc disease of the lumbar spine has been rated at 10 percent, but his symptoms do not warrant a higher rating as he does not have ankylosis or incapacitating episodes requiring bed rest.

The Veteran's claims for higher ratings for his knees, hip and spine disabilities were denied. The Veteran was awarded separate 10 percent ratings for degenerative arthritis of the right knee and left knee prior to August 20, 2007, but no higher rating is warranted.

The Board has reopened the claim of service connection for residuals of polio of the right lower extremity and granted it. The lumbar spine disorder, left leg disorder, left ankle disorder, and left hip disorder are all considered direct service connections.

The Veteran requested to withdraw all of his pending appeals, including those related to service connection for various conditions and disability ratings. As a result, the Board has dismissed the appeal.

The Veteran's claims for service connection are being remanded due to the need for additional medical opinions and the possible existence of outstanding VA records.

The Veteran's lumbosacral strain is currently rated at 20 percent, but does not meet the criteria for a higher rating as there is no evidence of limitation of motion to 30 degrees or less.

The Board has reopened the service connection claims for lumbar spine disability and left leg injury, but denied their merits. The claim of entitlement to service connection for sciatica of the right and left legs is also denied.

The Board has granted a 40% rating for the Veteran's lumbar strain with IVDS effective June 24, 2009. The Veteran's radiculopathy of the right leg is also service connected as secondary to his low back disability.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's sleep apnea was not incurred in or aggravated by service, and thus denied his claim for service connection.

The Veteran's current back disability, diagnosed as lumbar strain and lumbosacral spine degenerative disc disease with nerve root impingement, is found to be related to his military service. The Board has granted service connection for this condition.