Back / lumbar spine Board decisions

The Veteran's claim for an increased rating in excess of 10 percent for scars of the thoracic area prior to October 23, 2008 was denied. However, his claim for a 30 percent rating for scars from that date forward is granted.

The Veteran's low back disability has been manifested by flexion limited to, at worst, 5 degrees with pain, stiffness, and numbness into the lower left extremity. The criteria for entitlement to an initial disability rating in excess of 40 percent have not been met or approximated.

The Board denied service connection for back, right leg, and left leg disorders due to a lack of evidence linking these conditions to the Veteran's military service.

The Board found that the Veteran's back disorder was not incurred in or aggravated by active service and denied his claim for service connection.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for initial ratings in excess of 10 percent for degenerative disc disease of the lumbar spine and degenerative arthritis of the right knee, finding that the evidence did not meet the criteria for a higher rating under the applicable diagnostic codes.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for his right and left knee disabilities, as well as his lumbar spine disability, have been denied. The criteria for higher ratings were not met in any of the periods specified.

The Veteran's appeal was denied for an initial disability rating in excess of 20 percent prior to August 15, 2009, and in excess of 40 percent beginning August 15, 2009, for degenerative disc disease of the lumbar spine.

The Veteran's lumbosacral strain is currently rated at 20 percent, and her MDD warrants a 70 percent rating. The Board finds no basis to grant increased ratings for either condition.

The Board found that the appellant's low back disability is not etiologically related to service and denied his claim for service connection.

The Veteran's tinnitus was granted as service-connected, with the onset during service. The Veteran's PTSD is currently rated as 50 percent disabling.,Service connection for DDD of the lumbar spine remains pending due to lack of final adjudication.

The Board has remanded the case for further development, including a new VA examination and adjudication of the referred claims for CUE in prior rating decisions. The Veteran's earlier effective date claim is also being remanded.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded to obtain additional VA treatment records and to schedule a VA examination to assess the current severity of his back disability. The issues include seeking an increased rating for his service-connected lumbar muscle strain and determining whether he should be granted service connection for asthma and coronary artery disease.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral knee disability, bilateral hearing loss, and TDIU were denied. The appeal is not about service connection at all.

The Veteran's lumbar scoliosis is currently rated at 20 percent, reflecting the limitation of forward flexion to greater than 30 degrees but not greater than 60 degrees and a combined range of motion not exceeding 120 degrees. The Board finds this rating appropriate for the entire appeal period.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's thoracic spine disability, diagnosed as degenerative arthritis, degenerative disc disease, and myofascial pain syndrome, is aggravated by her service-connected PTSD. Therefore, service connection for this condition is granted.

The Board has determined that new and material evidence has been submitted to reopen the Veteran's claims for service connection for a low back disorder and hypertension. The case is remanded for further development, including VA examinations.

The Veteran's low back disability is being remanded for further development, including a VA examination to determine if it is at least as likely as not that the condition was aggravated by service or related to any non-congenital conditions present during service.

The Board has determined that new and material evidence has been received to reopen the claim of service connection for a low back disability, which was previously denied in July 2005. The Veteran's claim is now reopened.

The Board found that the Veteran's service-connected lumbosacral strain did not meet or approximate the criteria for a rating in excess of 10 percent, as there was no evidence of forward flexion limited to between 30 and 60 degrees or combined range of motion less than 120 degrees.

The Board denied service connection for a neck disorder and a back disorder, finding that the Veteran did not have current disabilities related to his military service.