Back / lumbar spine Board decisions

The Board has granted the Veteran's claims of service connection for a right hip disorder, low back disorder, and left ear hearing loss. The conditions are found to be as likely as not related to his military service.

The Board has remanded the case to the RO for scheduling a Travel Board hearing due to the Veteran's request for postponement of his hearing.

The Veteran's DDD of C5-C6 is rated at 20 percent, effective December 28, 2008. Service connection for tinnitus has been granted.

The Veteran's claim for service connection of a low back disability has been reopened and granted. The right knee disability issue remains pending as it requires further development.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded due to the need for additional examinations and development of his claims, including a total disability rating due to individual unemployability (TDIU).

The Veteran's bilateral ankle and low back disabilities are found to be related to his active duty service.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining VA and private treatment records, as well as a new VA examination to assess the severity of his lumbar spine disability and associated right lower extremity radiculopathy.

The Board has granted service connection for a first degree AV block, finding that it is as likely as not related to the Veteran's active service. The claim for service connection for a back disability remains pending.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's current degenerative joint disease of the thoracolumbar spine is not related to his service, and thus denied his claim for service connection. For his right knee and right wrist conditions, further examination is needed to determine if they are related to service.

The Veteran's service-connected degenerative disk disease with lumbar spondylosis and dextroscoliosis is currently rated at 20 percent, effective April 2009. Separate ratings of 20 percent for right sciatic nerve radiculopathy and 10 percent for left sciatic nerve radiculopathy are granted since February 2012.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for degenerative arthritis of the cervical and lumbar spine is being remanded due to inadequate opinion from the VA examiner. The Board will seek an addendum opinion that considers the continuity of symptomatology.

The Veteran does not have a low back disability that is the result of disease or injury incurred in or aggravated by active military service, and arthritis of the low back may not be presumed to have been incurred therein.

The Board has granted a higher rating for the Veteran's service-connected degenerative disc disease with back strain, diabetes mellitus type II, peripheral neuropathy of the left and right lower extremities, but denied a compensable rating for his bilateral hearing loss.

The case is being remanded for a VA examination to determine the nature and etiology of any current TBI residuals, including headaches. The Veteran's service-connected PTSD with related depression and anxiety are also considered in determining whether his current headaches are caused or aggravated by these conditions.

The Veteran's claim for a higher initial rating for his left elbow disability and service connection for a bilateral testicle condition were granted. The effective date is set at March 22, 2012, based on the combined disability evaluation meeting the criteria for TDIU.

The VA Board found that the Veteran's current cervical and lumbar spine disorders are not service-connected, as they likely pre-existed her military service or were aggravated by natural progression of aging. The claim was denied.

The Board has remanded the case for further development, including a new VA examination to assess the nature and etiology of any current back disability. The appellant's claim is currently in a pending state.

The Board finds that the Veteran's low back disorder is reasonably related to his service-connected knee disorders and thus grants service connection for this condition.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development due to a need for clarification on whether an in-service diagnosis of sacroiliitis can be considered arthritis, and for obtaining relevant VA and private treatment records since May 2006.

The Board found that the Veteran's service-connected left fibula fracture does not warrant a higher rating, as it more closely approximates slight ankle disability. The claim for service connection for a back condition was also denied due to lack of evidence linking the condition to service or a service-connected disability.