Back / lumbar spine Board decisions

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for a Travel Board or videoconference hearing.

The Board finds that there is no evidence of a chronic back disability in service and the earliest post-service clinical evidence of a current lumbar spine disability is over 40 years after separation from service. The Veteran's statements as to the onset of his pain are more probative than later statements, and the most probative evidence does not support a finding that the Veteran's current lumbar spine disability is related to military service.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's current back and left knee disabilities are not related to his military service, nor is there sufficient evidence to establish a secondary relationship between these conditions and his service-connected shrapnel fragment wound of the left leg. As such, the claims for service connection have been denied.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's low back disability and sacroiliac joint arthritis were not incurred in or aggravated by service, nor may they be presumed to have been incurred due to exposure to Agent Orange. The claim is denied.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's left knee and back disabilities are etiologically related to his active duty service, granting service connection for these conditions.

The Board denied service connection for a lumbar spine disorder, finding that the Veteran did not have a preexisting disability and that his current condition is not related to active duty service.

The Veteran's PTSD symptoms result in total occupational and social impairment throughout the pendency of the appeal, warranting a 100 percent disability rating for PTSD.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's current cervical, lumbar, and bilateral knee conditions are related to his service as a paratrooper. Service connection is granted for these conditions.

The Board has reopened the Veteran's claim of service connection for a low back disability and remanded it for further development, including obtaining VA treatment records and scheduling an examination. The Veteran is seeking to establish service connection for his current low back disability.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's claims for service connection for degenerative disc disease of the lumbar spine with spondylosis and degenerative joint disease of the right knee are remanded due to insufficient medical opinions regarding whether these conditions are secondary to his service-connected left knee disability.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's back disability was not incurred in service and is not related to his military service. As such, the claim for service connection for a back disability is denied.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including a new VA examination and an addendum to the April 2010 VA opinion.

The Board has remanded the case for further development and readjudication, including consideration of service connection under the presumptive provisions due to potential exposure to Agent Orange.

The Board has denied the Veteran's request to reopen his claim for service connection of a low back disability, finding that no new and material evidence has been presented.

The Veteran seeks service connection for headaches, low back disability, and venous circulatory insufficiency. The Board has ordered remand to obtain updated medical records and provide the Veteran with another VA examination.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded to obtain additional medical records and conduct a new VA examination. The issues include increased evaluations for service-connected lumbar strain, arthritis of the left knee, and meniscal tear of the left knee.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining a VA examination and medical records. The issues include seeking an increased rating for lumbar strain, service connection for left hip and knee disabilities, and determining if these conditions are related to the Veteran's service-connected lumbar spine disability.

The Veteran's lumbar spine disability was rated at 20 percent prior to October 26, 2011 and increased to 40 percent effective October 26, 2011. The right lower extremity sciatic nerve impairment was also rated at 10 percent prior to October 26, 2011 and increased to 20 percent effective October 26, 2011.

The Veteran's spondylosis of the lumbar spine was initially rated at 10 percent prior to October 2, 2013, and increased to 40 percent from October 2, 2013. The rating is based on functional impairment due to pain without showing ankylosis or incapacitating episodes.

The Veteran's lumbar spine disability is rated at 40 percent, and a separate rating for left lower extremity weakness is granted. The Board finds no basis to grant higher ratings under the schedular criteria.