Back / lumbar spine Board decisions

The Veteran's claim for increased ratings and TDIU was granted, with a 10 percent rating assigned for left knee chondromalacia. The claims for service connection were denied.

The Board found that the Veteran's low back disability is not related to his active service and denied his claim.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining VA outpatient records and considering all evidence received since the last supplemental statement of the case.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's lumbar, thoracic, and cervical spine disabilities are not related to service. The evidence does not support a finding of in-service injury or disease leading to current disability.

The Veteran's lumbar degenerative disc disease with bulging discs was found to be manifested by pain, tenderness, and limited forward flexion prior to June 4, 2013. On and after June 4, 2013, the disability was primarily characterized by pain and a reduced range of motion. The Veteran's disability did not meet or approximate the criteria for a higher rating.

The Board finds that the Veteran's current back disability is directly related to his military service and also aggravated by his service-connected bilateral knee and right foot disabilities. The evidence does not support a finding of a bilateral hip disability incurred in or aggravated by active military service.

The Veteran's lumbar spine disability with radiculopathy resulted in marked interference with employment and presented an exceptional or unusual disability picture, warranting a 40 percent rating on an extraschedular basis for the period prior to July 23, 2010.

The Board has remanded the case for further development due to the need to obtain relevant prison medical treatment records and provide an addendum opinion from a VA examiner.

The Board has determined that the Veteran does not have a bilateral knee disability or low back disability that is related to his military service. The arthritis of the knees was not shown within one year after separation from service, and there is no evidence linking the current disabilities to service.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings and service connection were denied. The Board found that the evidence did not support higher ratings or additional service connection.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for a low back disability, to include as secondary to his right wrist disability. The evidence submitted since the November 2005 rating decision did not raise a reasonable possibility of substantiating the claim.

The Veteran's service-connected degenerative disc disease of the lumbar spine and cervical spine (neck) disorder are found to be causally or etiologically due to his in-service motor vehicle accident.,Service connection is also granted for depression, as secondary to his service-connected disabilities.

The Board has determined that additional development is needed in order to properly adjudicate the Veteran's claims for an increased evaluation and service connection. The case will be remanded for further action.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for back, neck, lower extremity peripheral neuropathy, brain aneurysm, and soft tissue deterioration/sarcoma have been denied. The Board found no evidence of current disabilities or a nexus to service.

The Veteran's low back, right hip, and left knee disabilities are being remanded for additional examination to determine if they are proximately due or aggravated by his service-connected right knee disability.

The Board found that the Veteran's current low back disorders, lumbar spine degenerative disc and joint disease, and scoliosis are not causally related to his active duty service. The claim for service connection for low back disability was denied.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for PTSD, a psychiatric disability other than PTSD, cervical spine disability, degenerative changes of the lumbar spine, left hand disability to include frostbite residuals, and right hand disability to include frostbite residuals have been denied as there is no competent evidence linking these conditions to his military service.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including rescheduling VA examinations and scheduling a hearing at the RO.

The Board has granted a 40 percent rating for the Veteran's service-connected degenerative disc disease L4-L5 with chronic low back pain, effective as of the date of decision. The claim for service connection for a cervical spine disorder is also granted and a separate compensable rating is assigned for neurologic impairment of the right lower extremity associated with this condition. A TDIU claim is also granted.

The Board has granted service connection for a cervical spine disability, finding that the Veteran's current condition is at least as likely as not caused by his military service.,Service connection was denied for a lumbar spine disability due to lack of chronicity of symptomatology since service.