Back / lumbar spine Board decisions

The Veteran's right ear hearing loss meets the criteria for a service-connected disability.,Chronic back pain in service and post-service symptoms support service connection for low back degenerative joint disease.,There is no credible evidence of a traumatic brain injury related to service, nor any current diagnosis. Service connection is denied.,The Veteran's currently diagnosed sleep apnea is not related to service.

The Board has determined that additional development is needed for the Veteran's claims, including VA examinations and opinions to address his service connection claims.

The Veteran's lumbar spine degenerative disc disease with foraminal disc protrusion is currently rated at 40 percent, effective from August 22, 2008. The evidence does not show that the condition meets or approximates criteria for ankylosis of the thoracolumbar spine.

The Veteran's claim for an increased rating for his lumbar degenerative disc disease was granted, with a 10 percent evaluation. His claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are pending.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims of service connection for irritable bowel syndrome, bilateral leg pain, residuals of an injury to Muscle Group III, right knee disability, and left knee disability. The appeals were all denied as new and material evidence was not submitted.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings of his low back, right knee, and right ankle conditions have been denied. The Board found that the evidence did not meet the criteria for a higher rating under the applicable diagnostic codes.

The Board has granted service connection for erectile dysfunction and back disability, finding that both conditions are secondary to the Veteran's service-connected hypertension.

The Board has reopened the Veteran's claim of entitlement to service connection for a lumbar spine disability and finds that it is at least as likely as not incurred during or as a result of his active service. The new evidence received since the March 2003 Board decision raises a reasonable possibility of substantiating the claim.

The Veteran's lumbosacral strain is currently rated at 20 percent, and a separate 10 percent evaluation for associated incomplete paralysis of the sciatic nerves of the lower extremities has been granted. The claim for an increased rating for his lumbosacral strain remains unresolved.

The Veteran's service-connected low back disability is currently rated as 10 percent disabling, effective from June 21, 2006 to February 4, 2008 and from December 19, 2008. From February 5, 2008 to December 18, 2008, the disability is rated as 20 percent disabling. The Veteran also has a separate 10 percent evaluation for right lower extremity radiculopathy associated with his lumbosacral spine disorder effective from December 11, 2007.

The Board finds an approximate balance of favorable and unfavorable evidence regarding the Veteran's claims for secondary service connection for lumbar spine disorder, right lower extremity disorder (claimed as right leg idiopathic peripheral neuropathy), and right knee disorder. The decision is mixed.

The VA examiner found no evidence of a low back disability related to service and concluded that the Veteran's current low back condition is not service-connected.

The Board found that the Veteran's low back disorder is not etiologically related to his military service and denied his claim.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's current low back disability, diagnosed as degenerative disc and joint disease, is related to injury during active service. As such, the claim for service connection is granted.

The Board denied entitlement to a referral for extraschedular consideration of the rating assigned for lumbar degenerative joint and disc disease, residuals of thoracolumbar vertebrae fractures, and thoracolumbar disorder for the period from August 10, 2000, to May 15, 2009.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's current low back disability, diagnosed as degenerative joint and disc disease, is service-connected due to its onset during his military service.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for increased ratings for his service-connected lumbar paravertebral myositis, finding that the evidence did not meet the criteria for a rating in excess of 20 percent before October 13, 2009 or 40 percent effective October 13, 2009.

The Board has determined that additional development is needed before a final decision can be made on the Veteran's claims for service connection.

The Board has determined that new and material evidence has been presented to reopen the claim for service connection for a back disability. The Veteran's current low back disability is not etiologically related to his active duty service.

The Board has granted the Veteran's claim of entitlement to service connection for degenerative disc disease and desiccation of the lumbar spine with an annular disc bulge at L5-S1, finding that the evidence is in equipoise as to whether his current low back disabilities are related to his military service.