Back / lumbar spine Board decisions

The Veteran's L5-S1 degenerative disc disease and spinal stenosis with radiculopathy, status post lumbar fusion and laminectomy, is currently rated at 40 percent. The rating criteria used for this condition are the most favorable to the Veteran.

The Veteran's lumbosacral strain with degenerative disc disease has not met the criteria for a rating in excess of 10 percent as of September 29, 2009.

The Board found no evidence of a lumbar spine or bilateral foot disorder in service, and the VA examinations did not link these conditions to service.,Both the Veteran's lumbar spine condition and bilateral foot disorder were diagnosed many years after separation from service.

The Veteran's claimed lumbosacral spine disorder is not service-connected as it did not manifest during or within one year after service, and there is no evidence of a nexus to service.

The Board denied service connection for sleep apnea and spine disabilities, finding that the conditions were not related to active duty service.

The Veteran's appeal was denied as his service-connected right knee disability did not warrant a rating higher than 10 percent, and he failed to establish service connection for the claimed left knee, bilateral hip, or low back disorders.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's claimed left big toe disorder, diagnosed as degenerative joint disease, was not incurred in or aggravated by service and is not presumed to have been incurred due to exposure to herbicides. The claim for low back disorder, right knee disorder, and left knee disorder are held in abeyance pending further development.

The VA has determined that the appellant's degenerative disc disease of the cervical spine warrants a 10 percent evaluation prior to March 4, 2010.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including a video conference hearing. The issues include service connection for a psychiatric disorder secondary to IVDS of the thoracolumbar spine, rating for IVDS, and TDIU.

The Board has determined that the appellant's current low back disabilities are not related to his National Guard service, and thus denied his claim for service connection.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's left shoulder and cervical/lumbar spine disabilities are not service-connected as they did not manifest during active duty or within one year of separation, and there is no evidence of continuity of symptomatology. The VA examinations concluded that these conditions are less likely related to his military service.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims of service connection for diabetes mellitus, vision disability, and back disability. The evidence did not show a link between these conditions and his military service.,Service connection was not granted as there is no medical evidence showing that any of these disabilities were incurred or aggravated by service.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's claims of entitlement to service connection for right hip disability and a total rating based on individual unemployability are inextricably intertwined. The case is being remanded for further development, including obtaining additional medical opinions and adjudication of both issues.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for his lumbar spine disability, left and right lower extremity radiculopathy were denied as the evidence did not show that his disabilities warranted a higher rating.

The Board found that the evidence did not support service connection for a herniated disc or any current low back disability, and thus denied the claim.

The Board has determined that the VA examiner's opinion is inadequate and a new examination is needed to determine if the Veteran's current low back disability is related to his in-service injury. The Veteran must provide copies of any outstanding medical records for this purpose.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's low back disorder is not related to his active service, and therefore denied his claim for service connection.

The Board has granted service connection for headaches and found that the Veteran's current headaches are related to his service. The Veteran withdrew from consideration his appeals regarding right ear hearing loss and higher initial evaluations for major depression, right ankle disability, back disability, and left shoulder disability.

The Board has reopened the claim of service connection for spondylosis of the thoracolumbar spine and found a right knee disorder was incurred in active military service. The decision on service connection for the right knee is mixed, with some issues granted and others not.

The Board has reopened the Veteran's claims for service connection of a lower back condition, bilateral knee condition, and PTSD. The claim for PTSD is granted as there is credible supporting evidence of an in-service personal assault.