Back / lumbar spine Board decisions

The Board has determined that new and material evidence has been presented to reopen the claim for service connection for a back disability, but it is denied as there is no competent medical evidence linking any current back disability to service. The Veteran's claims for cervical spine disability (neck) and nerve disability of the right upper extremity are also denied.

The Board found that the Veteran does not have a back disability attributable to his active military service and denied his claim for service connection.

The Board has remanded the case due to conflicting medical opinions regarding whether the Veteran's lumbar spine disability is related to his service-connected knee disabilities. The claim will be further developed and adjudicated.

The Veteran withdrew his appeal regarding the issues of entitlement to service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder other than posttraumatic stress disorder, as well as his appeals regarding the issues of entitlement to increased evaluations for service-connected degenerative disc disease of the thoracolumbar and cervical spines.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for further development, including a new examination to assess his blood disorder and its effects on his medications. The case will also be reviewed for an increased rating of degenerative disc disease.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded to obtain additional medical records and for further VA examinations. The issues of service connection for various conditions are under review.

The Veteran's lumbar spine strain is manifested by severely reduced forward flexion of the thoracolumbar spine, but not ankylosis. The criteria for an evaluation in excess of 40 percent have not been met.

The Veteran's service connection for decreased libido associated with hairy-cell leukemia was granted effective September 8, 2014. The issue of entitlement to service connection for erectile dysfunction remains unresolved.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's current low back disability is related to an in-service injury and has granted service connection for this condition.

The Board has denied the reopening of the Veteran's claims for service connection for low back and neck disabilities, finding that no new and material evidence has been received to support these claims.

The Board found no evidence of a current disability or in-service injury that would support service connection for the Veteran's bilateral shoulder, elbow, and back disabilities. The claims were denied as there was insufficient medical evidence to establish a link between any present condition and service.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for his service-connected degenerative arthritis of the lumbar spine and posterior trunk scar were denied. The Board found that the evidence did not support a higher rating under any applicable diagnostic codes.

The Board has granted service connection for tinnitus and increased the ratings for arthritis of both knees to 10 percent each.

The Board has remanded the case for an addendum opinion regarding whether the Veteran's lumbar spine condition is caused by his service-connected right and left knee disabilities, or if it was permanently worsened beyond normal progression due to these conditions.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for left knee bursitis and DDD of the lumbosacral spine with spondylolisthesis were denied. The Board found that the evidence did not support a higher rating under the applicable diagnostic codes.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's arthritis and degenerative disc disease from L3 through L5, of the lumbar spine, with grade 1 retrolisthesis of L5-S1, are related to his active service.

The Veteran's lumbar spine degenerative disc disease and left leg radiculopathy have not met the criteria for a higher evaluation since July 21, 2009. The Veteran's right leg radiculopathy has also been evaluated separately.

The Veteran's back disability is not service-connected, but his right hand neuropathy is secondary to a service-connected elbow disability. The rating for the flexion of the right elbow has been granted at 50%.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded to obtain updated VA and private treatment records, schedule a VA examination for his left lower extremity sciatica, and determine the impact of his service-connected disabilities on his employability. The TDIU issue will be deferred until these issues are resolved.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for a right eye disability and leg cramps were denied. The Board found no evidence linking these conditions to service.,For the lumbar strain, left knee disability, and hernia with GERD issues, the Veteran was granted initial ratings but not higher than 20 percent, 10 percent, and 10 percent respectively.