Back / lumbar spine Board decisions

The Board found that the Veteran does not have a low back disorder that is related to his military service or a service-connected disability, and thus denied his claim for service connection.

The Board has determined that the Veteran does not have a current disability for which service connection can be granted, specifically for her right knee and left foot callus of the 5th metatarsal head. As such, these claims are denied.

The Veteran's degenerative changes of the lumbar spine have been rated at 20 percent since April 20, 2012. The rating is based on his current range of motion and symptoms.

The Veteran's service-connected degenerative arthritis of the spine and associated radiculopathy involving the left lower extremity have been rated at 20 percent since August 10, 2009. The initial rating remains unchanged from a previous 10 percent rating prior to that date.

The Veteran's claim for PTSD was denied as he does not currently have a diagnosed condition during the appeal period. The other claims were also denied.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's cervical and thoracolumbar spine disabilities are related to his active duty service, granting service connection for these conditions.

The Board found that the Veteran's current low back disorder is not due to an injury or event during his period of active service, and denied his claim for service connection.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's degenerative disc disease of the lumbar spine is etiologically related to an injury sustained during a period of Active Duty for Training (ACDUTRA) in 1986, and thus grants service connection.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities did not render him unable to secure or follow substantially gainful employment prior to May 7, 2009.

The Veteran's claim for non-service-connected disability pension benefits was granted effective June 15, 2006. The Board found that the Veteran did not meet the criteria for an earlier effective date due to his employment status and medical conditions.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining medical records and arranging a VA examination to assess the current severity of his cervical and lumbar spine disabilities.

The Veteran's lumbar strain disability has been rated at 20 percent since July 30, 2012. The Board finds that the evidence does not support a higher rating for any period.

The Veteran's claim for an earlier effective date for a 40% evaluation for lumbosacral strain and degenerative joint disease of the lumbar spine was denied as there is no evidence showing that his disability warranted such a rating prior to July 26, 2007.

The Board has determined that a remand is necessary to obtain additional medical opinions regarding the etiology and severity of the Veteran's right shoulder and low back disabilities, as well as his cervical spine disability. The issues are being returned for further development.

The Board has granted service connection for a lumbar spine disability and a right lower extremity neurological disability of the lateral and sural femoral cutaneous nerves, both secondary to service-connected thoracic disability. The effective date is set at October 30, 2007.

The Veteran's lumbar spine strain has been rated at 20 percent since July 31, 2009. The Board found that the evidence does not support a higher rating as there is no ankylosis or incapacitating episodes due to intervertebral disc syndrome (IVDS).

The Board has granted service connection for tinnitus and hemorrhoids, finding that the Veteran's conditions are related to his period of active service. Service connection for a low back disorder is remanded as further examination is needed.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining SSA records and issuing a statement of the case on his claims.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded to obtain additional medical records from SSA and any workers compensation authority, as well as private treatment records. The issue of entitlement to an evaluation in excess of 20 percent for degenerative disc disease and degenerative joint disease of the lumbar spine with right L-2 radiculopathy will be reconsidered after these records are obtained.

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