Back / lumbar spine Board decisions

The Board has determined that the Veteran's low back disability was not incurred in or aggravated by active service and is not related to his service-connected left knee disability. The claim for service connection is therefore denied.

The Veteran's lumbar spine disability is currently rated at 20 percent, and his cervical spine disability was previously rated at 10 percent prior to October 22, 2008. Since then, it has been rated at 20 percent. The Board finds that the current ratings adequately reflect the severity of these disabilities.

The Veteran's low back disability was rated at 20 percent prior to September 26, 2003 and granted a rating of 20 percent thereafter. The Board also found that the Veteran was entitled to TDIU from August 28, 2003 to February 4, 2004.

The Board has remanded the case for a new VA examination to address the etiology of the Appellant's back disabilities, including thorough and thoughtful discussion of prior medical opinions. The claims are currently pending.

The Board found no evidence that the Veteran's current lumbosacral spine disability was incurred or aggravated by service, and denied his claim.

The Board has determined that the VA examination is inadequate and remands the case for further development, including obtaining treatment records and scheduling a VA orthopedic/neurological examination.

The Board has remanded the case due to inadequate rationale in a previous medical opinion regarding secondary service connection for the Veteran's left shoulder and low back disorders. The case will be returned to the RO for further review after obtaining an updated medical opinion.

The Board found that the Veteran's right ankle and left knee disabilities are service-connected, with the right ankle disability being granted. The low back disability was not service-connected but the claim for secondary service connection was granted.

The Board found that the Veteran's claimed heart disorder, bilateral leg disorder, neurological disorder of the left arm and hand, cranial nerve/head disorder, and low back disorder are not shown to be due to a disease or injury in service. The claims for these conditions were therefore denied.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded due to unclear opinions regarding the adequacy of his schedular evaluation and the impact of his service-connected low back disability on his overall disability picture. The case will be readjudicated after obtaining clarification from the Director of the VA's Compensation and Pension Service.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral foot condition (claimed as pes planus) and low back disability, finding no evidence of such conditions during or related to his military service.

The Veteran's thoracolumbar spine disability is rated at 20 percent, effective from the date of service discharge. He also has separate ratings for right and left lower extremity radiculopathy.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for further development, including scheduling a personal hearing before the Board at his local RO.

The Veteran's left knee and low back disorders are service-connected. The right knee chondromalacia, limitation of flexion, and extension issues have been granted increased ratings. A separate rating for instability was also granted. Major depressive disorder has been rated at 70 percent disabling.

The Board has granted service connection for degenerative disc disease of the cervical spine and radiculopathy of the right upper extremity, finding that these conditions are related to service.

The Board has reopened the claims for service connection for low back and left knee disabilities due to new evidence showing current diagnoses. The Veteran's military duties as a parachute member are considered in determining that his current conditions are related to service.

The Veteran's claim of entitlement to service connection for metatarsalgia, bilateral feet (previously claimed as muscle pain) is dismissed due to the benefit already being in effect. The issues of entitlement to service connection for a lumbosacral spine disability, an acquired psychiatric disorder, headaches, and sleep apnea are addressed in the REMAND portion of this decision.

The Veteran's claim for an increased rating for his lumbar spine disability is being remanded due to the need for a new VA examination and consideration of updated medical records.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining private treatment records and conducting spine and neurological examinations.

The Board has granted the Veteran's claim for a TDIU rating, finding that her service-connected disabilities prevent her from securing or following substantially gainful employment.