Back / lumbar spine Board decisions

The Board found that the Veteran does not have a current diagnosis of bilateral knee disability or low back disability, and thus denied service connection for these conditions.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded due to the need for a VA examination and additional development of his claims for service connection for lower back, right knee, right ankle, and left ankle disorders.

The Veteran's appeal has been withdrawn by the appellant, and thus the case is dismissed.

The Veteran seeks service connection for left hip and low back disorders, but additional evidence is needed to determine the nature of his conditions and their relationship to military service.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, and a right foot disability. The claim for low back disability is pending as an issue.

The Veteran's claim for a higher initial rating for his service-connected degenerative changes of the lumbar spine was granted, with an effective date of November 28, 2012. The current disability rating is 40 percent.

The Board has granted the claim for service connection for lumbosacral degenerative disc disease and spinal stenosis, finding that it is proximately due to or the result of a service-connected thoracolumbar strain.

The Veteran's service-connected lumbar spine strain is rated at 40 percent effective May 16, 2013. The rating criteria specifically refer to the assignment of separate evaluations for neurologic manifestations.

The Veteran's low back disability is not shown to be causally or etiologically related to any disease, injury, or incident in service. The Board finds that the criteria for a low back disability have not been met.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient service treatment records and a need for an addendum opinion regarding the etiology of the Veteran's back disability.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining VA examination results and Social Security Administration records. The issues of increased evaluation for spondylolisthesis with a lumbosacral strain and disc abnormalities and entitlement to a total disability rating based on individual unemployability are also included in the appeal.

The Veteran's low back disability is found to be secondary to his service-connected right knee disability, and he is granted service connection for degenerative arthritis and disc herniation of the lumbosacral spine. The issue of service connection for neuropathy remains pending.

The Board found that the Veteran's current cervical and lumbar spine disabilities were not incurred in service, as there was no chronic condition noted at separation. The VA examiner concluded that the conditions are more likely due to aging and degenerative changes rather than service.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's degenerative disc disease of the lumbar spine was first diagnosed during active duty service and grants service connection for this condition.

The Veteran's claims for higher ratings for migraines and low back disability were denied. The current rating of 10 percent for migraines is maintained, while the initial 20 percent rating for low back disability was granted effective April 24, 2009.

The Veteran's cervical spine disability is not shown to meet the criteria for a rating in excess of 10 percent, as his range of motion and combined range of motion do not more nearly approximate the criteria for such.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development to determine the relationship between his current right knee, hip and back disabilities and his service. The case will be readjudicated after this.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for a chronic low back disorder, finding that there was no in-service injury or disease and no current disability. The evidence did not show any treatment for back pain during service and the separation examination found the spine to be normal.

The case is being remanded for further development of the Veteran's claims, including obtaining his service treatment records and scheduling medical examinations.

The Veteran's claim for an increased disability rating for his service-connected lumbosacral strain is being remanded due to the need for additional medical examination and development of VA treatment records.