Back / lumbar spine Board decisions

The Veteran's appeal for a higher disability rating for his service-connected back condition was denied as the evidence did not show unfavorable ankylosis of the entire thoracolumbar spine, which is required for a higher evaluation.

The Board has granted a 20 percent rating for the Veteran's service-connected lumbosacral strain, but denied any increase in rating for his left knee disability.

The Board finds that the Veteran's claim for service connection for chronic pain syndrome cannot be granted as there is no diagnosed condition underlying her complaints of pain. The preponderance of evidence does not support a finding of a current disability separate from her already service-connected low back disability.

The Veteran's low back disability is currently rated at 40 percent, effective August 14, 2009. The Board found that the evidence supported a higher rating prior to this date.

The Veteran's claim for an earlier effective date for the grant of service connection for a low back disability is granted, with the effective date set at November 3, 1988.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for arthritis of the hip joints is pending. The claim for a skin rash has been reopened but remains denied as new evidence does not relate to an unestablished fact necessary to substantiate the claim.,Service connection for diabetes mellitus, Type II is granted. The low back disability claim was previously denied and reopening was granted due to new evidence received. Service connection is established based on a finding that the current condition is related to active duty.,The Veteran's claim for service connection for sciatica and plantar fasciitis remains pending as new evidence does not relate to an unestablished fact necessary to substantiate the claim. The eye disability claim was previously denied but reopened due to new evidence received, however no service connection is granted as there is no link between current condition and active duty.,The Veteran's acquired psychiatric disability (PTSD, major depression, anxiety disorder) claim remains pending as new evidence does not relate to an unestablished fact necessary to substantiate the claim.

The Veteran's degenerative joint disease of the thoracolumbar spine and cervical spine have been rated at 10 percent, with some periods receiving higher ratings.

The Board found that the Veteran's current low back disorder is not related to his military service, including a January 1988 injury. The claim for service connection was denied.

The Board has reopened the claim for service connection for a lumbar spine disability and determined that new evidence supports this reopening. The Veteran does not have any of the claimed conditions, including back, knee, foot, elbow, hearing loss, tinnitus, diabetes mellitus type 2, heart disease, or psychiatric disorders, that were incurred in or aggravated by his service.

The Board has granted service connection for a back disability and denied service connection for a sinus disorder. The Veteran's back disability is presumed to have existed prior to service, but the evidence does not support aggravation during service.

The Board found that the Veteran's current low back disability is not caused by or a result of his military service, and denied service connection for sciatica of the right lower extremity and sciatica of the left lower extremity.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's current knee and back conditions are not related to his military service, and thus denied his claims for service connection.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for various disabilities, including hearing loss and spine conditions, were denied as there was no evidence of in-service injury or disease that would support the current diagnoses.,Service connection could not be established for any of the claimed disabilities due to a lack of credible evidence linking them to service.

The Board found that the Veteran's hip and low back disorders are not related to his military service, and therefore denied these claims.

The Board found that the Veteran's current low back disability, including multilevel lumbar degenerative disc disease and multilevel lumbar facet osteoarthritis, is not shown by competent and credible evidence to be the result of his military service.

The Board found that the Veteran's low back, right hip, and left hip disabilities are not related to service. The in-service motor vehicle accident did not result in chronic conditions.

The Veteran's initial compensable rating for a lower back disability with left lower extremity radiculopathy has been granted, and he is also entitled to a separate 10 percent rating for the left lower extremity radiculopathy. The TDIU issue remains part of his increased rating claim.

The Board denied service connection for a left knee disorder and a low back disorder, finding that the Veteran's current conditions are not causally related to his military service.

The Board found no evidence of a chronic back condition during service and denied the claim for service connection, concluding that any current back disability is not related to service.

The Veteran's lumbar spine disability has not met the criteria for a higher initial rating of greater than 10 percent prior to September 21, 2011 and greater than 20 percent thereafter. The current disability rating remains at 10 percent.