Back / lumbar spine Board decisions

The Board has determined that the Veteran's claimed left knee disorder, right ankle disorder, lumbar spine disorder, and sciatica are not service-connected as they do not have a direct relationship to his military service or any service-connected conditions.

The Veteran's low back disability was rated at 20 percent for the period prior to January 4, 2011 and from March 1, 2011. The rating is based on forward flexion of the thoracolumbar spine less than 30 degrees or favorable ankylosis of the entire thoracolumbar spine.

The Board has determined that service connection for a low back disorder is warranted based on continuity of symptoms since service, resolving reasonable doubt in favor of the Veteran.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's claimed recurrent lumbar spine disorder, including trauma residuals, was not manifested during active service or at any time thereafter and therefore denied his claim for service connection.

The Veteran's appeals have been dismissed as he has withdrawn his appeal through written correspondence.

The Board found that the Veteran's left hip, right hip, and low back conditions are not related to his military service.,There is no evidence showing a direct link between the Veteran's current hip and back conditions and his active duty service.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development to obtain updated VA and private treatment records, as well as another VA examination. The Veteran's lumbar spine disability is being evaluated in relation to his service connection claims.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including a new examination and an addendum opinion addressing the impact of his service-connected disabilities on employment.

The Board found that the Veteran's current thoracolumbar back disability is not etiologically related to service, and thus denied his claim for service connection.

The Board finds that the Veteran's current cervical spine degenerative disc disease, spinal stenosis, and herniated discs are not related to service. The VA examiner opined that it is less likely than not that these conditions had their onset during service or were otherwise causally related to service.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's claims for service connection are denied. The evidence does not support a finding of in-service injury or disease, and there is no medical opinion linking any current disabilities to service.

The Veteran's lumbar spine disability is rated at 40 percent since July 11, 2006 and the left lower extremity radiculopathy is rated at 20 percent from January 8, 2007 to August 18, 2013. The Veteran does not meet the criteria for a higher rating under any applicable diagnostic codes.,Prior to August 19, 2013, the Veteran's left lower extremity radiculopathy is rated at 40 percent. After that date, there is no evidence of muscle atrophy or severe incomplete paralysis, which would warrant an even higher rating.

The Veteran's service connection claims for a low back disability, skin disabilities presumed due to Agent Orange exposure, and shrapnel wound residuals are all granted. The Veteran has been diagnosed with degenerative joint disease of the lumbar spine, and his current skin conditions (presumed due to Agent Orange) are consistent with such presumptions.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development of his claims, including obtaining private treatment records and scheduling examinations to assess the severity of his service-connected conditions.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for a cardiac disability and an initial rating in excess of 10 percent for his back disability. The TDIU claim was also denied as it arose from a final decision denying entitlement to a TDIU.

The Veteran's migraine headaches are rated at 50 percent since the entire period under consideration, and she is granted a TDIU for the entire period.,She was previously denied an increased rating for her migraine headaches. The Board has now awarded a higher rating of 50 percent.

The Veteran's claim for an increased rating for lumbar degenerative disc disease was denied as the evidence did not meet the criteria for a higher rating.

The Board has remanded the case for further development, including obtaining service treatment records and post-service treatment records. The Veteran's claims will be reconsidered after this additional development.

The Veteran's lumbar spine disability has been primarily manifested by pain on use, with some pain on palpation, and moderate to severe limitation of motion. The Board found that the current rating of 40 percent is appropriate given his forward flexion of at least 20 degrees during the appeal period.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for various conditions have been denied. The Board found no competent, credible evidence linking any of the claimed disorders to his military service.