Back / lumbar spine Board decisions

The Veteran's low back disability, including radiculopathy of the lower extremities, does not meet the criteria for a higher rating from May 11, 2004 to September 13, 2005 and from September 14, 2005 forward. The erectile dysfunction is service-connected as secondary to his low back disability.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's lower back disorder is not related to service and therefore denied her claim for service connection.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining SSA records and scheduling VA examinations to assess the severity of his right knee, lumbar spine, and post umbilical hernia scar disabilities. The TDIU issue is also inextricably intertwined with the rating issues.

The Veteran's thoracic and lumbar spine disability is granted as incurred in service.,The Veteran's psoriasis is granted as incurred in service.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for scheduling a videoconference hearing due to his financial constraints. The issues of an increased rating for degenerative disc disease and TDIU are still pending.

The Veteran's chronic lumbar strain is found to be incurred in service, and the claim for service connection for this condition is granted. The issues of entitlement to service connection for a low back disability other than chronic lumbar strain and for a right knee disability are remanded.

The Board has reopened the Veteran's claim for service connection of an acquired psychiatric disorder, but denied the claim on the merits. The evidence does not establish a causal relationship between the current diagnosis and active service or any service-connected disability.

The Board has reopened the claims for service connection for a psychiatric disability and right ankle disability, finding new and material evidence. The claims are now pending on their merits.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection of a lumbar spine disability, finding that new and material evidence had not been received to reopen the claim. The February 2004 rating decision denying service connection was final.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded due to the need for additional development of his lumbar spine disability, including a new VA examination and consideration of TDIU.

The Board has decided to remand the case for further development, including obtaining inpatient records from Fort Hood and scheduling a VA examination. The Veteran's claim will be readjudicated after this additional development.

The Veteran's service-connected DDD of the lumbosacral spine is currently rated at 10 percent, reflecting limitation of motion with forward flexion greater than 60 degrees but not greater than 85 degrees and a combined range of motion greater than 120 degrees. The condition does not meet criteria for higher ratings as it does not result in ankylosis or incapacitating episodes.

The Board found that the Veteran's current back, bilateral knee, and neck disabilities were not incurred or aggravated by service. The preponderance of evidence is against a finding of a nexus between these conditions and his military service.

The Board has reopened the Veteran's claim for service connection for a low back disorder and granted service connection, assigning a non-compensable rating. The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss is currently rated as Level I in both ears.

The Board has decided to remand the case for additional development, including obtaining VA treatment records and providing a VA examination. The Veteran's claim for service connection of a low back disorder is pending.

The Veteran's service-connected lumbar strain with degenerative joint disease is currently rated at 40 percent, effective June 10, 2011. The Board finds that the current rating adequately reflects the severity of his disability.

The Veteran's lumbar spine disability is not productive of forward flexion of 60 degrees or less, combined range of motion of no greater than 120 degrees, favorable or unfavorable ankylosis of the entire thoracolumbar spine, or incapacitating episodes of intervertebral disc syndrome. Therefore, a higher rating in excess of 10 percent is not warranted.

The Veteran's appeals for increased ratings for PTSD with anxiety disorder, lumbar spine osteoarthritis, and right lower extremity sciatica were denied. The appeal is not about service connection at all.

The Board found that the Veteran's diagnosed cervical spine, lumbosacral spine, right shoulder, bilateral elbow, and bilateral knee conditions were not related to service or manifest within one year of separation. Therefore, service connection was denied for all issues.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's low back disability clearly and unmistakably existed prior to service and was not aggravated by active duty, thus denying service connection.