Back / lumbar spine Board decisions

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for a low back disability, finding that it is not at least as likely as not related to his active duty or due to or aggravated by a service-connected condition. The claim for an increased rating for residuals of right ankle fracture was also denied, and the TDIU claim remains pending.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims of service connection for right shoulder, cervical spine, and lumbar spine disabilities due to lack of evidence linking these conditions to his military service.

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

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not meet the schedular criteria for a TDIU, and his claim was denied on both schedular and extraschedular grounds.

The Board found that the Veteran's current low back disability is not causally or etiologically related to active service and denied his claim for service connection.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining private medical records and updated VA treatment records. The case will be readjudicated based on the evidence.

The Board determined that new and material evidence had not been received to reopen the previously denied claim for service connection of a chronic back disability.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining VA treatment records and vocational rehabilitation documents. He needs to be provided with a proper VCAA notice letter addressing how to establish service connection on a secondary basis.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded due to scheduling issues for a hearing before the Board of Veterans' Appeals.

The Veteran's appeal has been withdrawn prior to the Board making a decision.

The Veteran's lumbar spine strain has been rated at 10 percent since September 19, 2008. The Board finds that the current rating of 10 percent is appropriate based on the evidence showing limited range of motion and pain without additional functional loss or abnormal gait.

The Veteran's claim for a compensable rating for his service-connected lumbar contusion was denied. The Board also found that new and material evidence has not been submitted to reopen the claim of entitlement to service connection for a back disability, including as secondary to the service-connected lumbar contusion.

The Board has remanded the issues of service connection for cervical and lumbar spine disorders due to incomplete records from private providers. The Veteran is requested to provide authorizations for these providers so that all relevant treatment records can be obtained.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded for additional development, including obtaining VA treatment records and private medical records from his employer. A new VA examination will be conducted to assess the current severity of his service-connected degenerative arthritis of the lumbar spine.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for hypertension and lumbar spine disorder due to insufficient consideration of lay statements and duty to assist.

The Veteran's lumbar and thoracic spine disabilities have been rated based on their service-connected nature, with the most recent rating decision granting a 20 percent rating for each condition effective January 1, 2002. The claims for increased ratings remain pending.

The Veteran's low back disability was not manifested by forward flexion of the thoracolumbar spine limited to 60 degrees or less, limitation of the combined ranges of motion to 120 degrees or less, or muscle spasm or guarding severe enough to result in abnormal gait or abnormal spinal contour; incapacitating episodes were not shown. As a result, a rating in excess of 10 percent is not warranted for the Veteran's service-connected lumbosacral strain with postoperative stenosis.

The Board found the VA examinations inadequate and remanded for another examination. The February 2013 VA examination is considered adequate, with no indication of service connection.

The Veteran's degenerative disc disease of the thoracolumbar spine is currently evaluated at 20 percent, effective from February 15, 2005.

The Veteran's service-connected thoracolumbar strain and herniated nucleus pulposus at L4-L5 level have been rated as 20 percent disabling since December 6, 2007. The Board finds that the current disability does not warrant a higher rating.