Back / lumbar spine Board decisions

The Board found no evidence of a chronic low back disorder in service and denied the Veteran's claim for service connection. For his bilateral knee disabilities, the Board determined that there was insufficient continuity of symptomatology to establish service connection.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for an effective date prior to October 6, 2010 for the award of service connection for lumbar herniated disc at L5-S1. The Veteran's claim was received by VA on October 6, 2010, and he did not file a valid appeal within one year from that date.

The Veteran's service-connected conditions, including PTSD, cervical radiculopathy, and degenerative disc disease of the lumbar spine, are considered to have contributed substantially or materially to his death from pneumonia.

The Veteran's headaches were rated at 30 percent prior to October 2009, and increased to 50 percent effective November 1, 2009.,For the lumbar spine disability, ratings of 10%, 20%, and 50% have been granted since June 5, 2004.

The Board has granted service connection for low back strain with degenerative changes and right hip strain with tronchantric bursitis, finding that these conditions are secondary to the Veteran's service-connected left knee disabilities.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's low back arthritis had its onset during active service and grants service connection for this condition.

The case is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining records from Gorgas Hospital and requesting new VA opinions regarding the Veteran's knee and back disabilities.

The Veteran's lumbosacral strain and associated right lower extremity radiculopathy are productive of symptoms warranting at least a 20 percent rating since September 2, 2006.

The Board has remanded the case due to incomplete development and a need for an etiology opinion considering all service treatment records, including those from 1979, 1984, and 1988.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, particularly his lumbosacral spine condition, render him unable to protect himself from daily environmental hazards and he requires the regular aid and attendance of another person.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings were denied. The left shoulder rotator cuff tendonitis and lumbar spine hypertrophic osteoarthritis did not meet the criteria for higher ratings, while the left ear hearing loss was rated at its maximum allowable level of Level I impairment. PTSD met the criteria for a 70 percent rating prior to December 12, 2011, but from that date forward, it did not warrant an increased rating beyond 30 percent. The GERD and hiatal hernia with gallbladder disease were rated at their maximum allowable level of 10 percent.

The Board has determined that the Appellant's current lumbar spine disability is related to a motor vehicle accident during ACDUTRA, and service connection for this condition is granted.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for further development, including a VA examination to determine if his lumbar spine disability and radiculitis/radiculopathy are related to service. The claims will be reconsidered after these actions.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for further development, including scheduling VA examinations to address the nature and etiology of his low back disability and the current severity of his service-connected bilateral hearing loss.

The Veteran's left knee disability received an increased rating to 30 percent effective September 20, 2007. The right knee disability received an increased rating to 60 percent effective February 1, 2011.,Both knees have been rated based on the severity of their respective disabilities.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded to obtain additional medical opinions and examinations, as well as to ensure that all relevant evidence has been considered in the adjudication of his claims.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development to reassess the severity of his service-connected mixed headache syndrome and lumbar degenerative disc disease, as well as to address a derivative claim for TDIU.

The Board has determined that new and material evidence has been submitted to reopen the claim for service connection for low back disability. The Veteran's current low back disability is not shown to be related to his military service, as there is no chronic disability noted in service or within one year post-service. For right shoulder disability, there is also no showing of a chronic disability and it is not linked to service. Therefore, the claims for both conditions are denied.

The Veteran's claim for a higher rating for his lumbar spine intervertebral disc syndrome, status post surgery is being remanded due to the need for additional development including another VA examination and obtaining medical records.