Back / lumbar spine Board decisions

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded to obtain updated VA treatment records and arrange for a VA examination. The issues of entitlement to an increased rating for lumbosacral strain with sacroilitis of both sacroiliac joints, TDIU, and service connection for ankylosing spondylitis are also being addressed.

The Veteran's appeal involves multiple service-connected musculoskeletal disabilities, including left knee arthritis, right knee arthritis, degenerative arthritis of the cervical spine, left ankle degenerative arthritis, right shoulder arthritis, and impingement syndrome of the left shoulder. The issues on appeal are for initial ratings in excess of 10 percent for these conditions.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's current low back disability is related to his active duty service and has granted service connection for this condition.

The Board has granted service connection for hypertension and assigned a 10 percent rating for the low back strain, finding that both conditions are related to service.

The Board has remanded the case due to the need for additional development, including obtaining a VA examination and reviewing outstanding medical records.

The Veteran's service-connected low back disability is primarily productive of mild degenerative arthritis with forward flexion to 85 degrees, and the examiner did not find any additional limitation due to pain or other factors. The current rating of 10 percent is therefore appropriate.

The Veteran's appeal for increased ratings was withdrawn, and the left ankle disability is rated at 20% prior to April 27, 2011, but not more than 10% beginning from that date.

The Veteran's appeal was dismissed due to his death, and the Board has no jurisdiction to adjudicate the merits of this claim.

The Board found that the Veteran's low back disability, including degenerative disc and joint disease, was not incurred in or aggravated by his active military service. The VA examiners concluded that the current condition is unrelated to his military service.

The Board found that the Veteran's low back disability was not incurred in or aggravated during service and denied his claim for service connection.

The Board found no evidence of a chronic back condition that was incurred or aggravated by service, and thus denied the Veteran's claim for service connection.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including obtaining an addendum VA medical opinion to address whether the Veteran's back disability is related to his military service or aggravated by his service-connected left ankle disability.

The Board found no evidence of chronic disability related to service and denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for a back disorder.

The Veteran's claim for increased ratings for his service-connected lumbosacral strain with degenerative disc disease was denied. The RO granted a 40 percent rating effective from May 26, 2004.

The Board found that uveitis was not incurred in or aggravated by active service, and denied the Veteran's claim for service connection.

The Board has remanded the case due to inadequate medical opinion regarding the relationship between the Veteran's lower back disability and service. The claim is now pending for further development.

The Board denied reopening the Veteran's claim of service connection for a status-post right inguinal hernia repair, including as due to a service-connected status-post left inguinal hernia repair. The Board also denied service connection for a low back disability. Both decisions were based on the lack of new and material evidence.

The Veteran's lumbar strain with degenerative disc disease is rated at 40 percent as of April 14, 2011. His cervical spine disability remains rated at 30 percent throughout the appeal period.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's left knee disability is not related to active duty or service-connected right tibia and fibula fractures, and thus denied her claim for service connection. The lumbar spine and left hip bursitis issues require further clarification due to inadequate VA examination.

The Board has granted service connection for T12 and L1 anterior compression fractures, reopening the claim of service connection for a low back disability. The Veteran's cervical spine disability is also service connected.