Back / lumbar spine Board decisions

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for left and right knee disabilities, as well as a higher rating for his lumbar spine disability before October 26, 2005. The appeal is remanded to determine if additional evidence supports these decisions.

The Veteran's claims for higher initial ratings for myositis ossificans of the right hip, arthralgia of the right ankle, and thoracolumbar spine strain were denied as her service-connected conditions do not meet the criteria for a higher rating under the applicable VA rating schedule.

The Veteran's low back strain with degenerative disc disease was rated at 10 percent prior to February 19, 2004 and increased to 40 percent beginning on that date.

The Board has granted service connection for low back strain, finding that the Veteran's condition began during service. Service connection was also granted for lumbar degenerative disk disease/stenosis.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for degenerative disc disease of the lumbosacral spine, bilateral hearing loss, and tinnitus were denied as there is no evidence that these conditions are related to his military service. The claim for residuals of asbestos exposure was not addressed due to lack of a diagnosis.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's cervical spine, lumbar spine, headache, and psychiatric disabilities are not service-connected as they did not have their onset in service or within one year thereafter, and there is no causal relationship between these conditions and his military service.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including obtaining VA treatment records and scheduling a VA examination to assess the severity of the appellant's service-connected thoracolumbar strain with degenerative changes.

The Veteran's thoracolumbar disability was denied an increased rating prior to September 6, 2012. The psychiatric disability was also denied an increased rating.

The Board found that the Veteran's congenital defect of the low back did not result in a chronic disability during service or for many years thereafter, and is not causally related to service. Therefore, the claim for service connection was denied.

The Veteran's appeals for initial ratings for her left knee disability and degenerative disc disease of the lumbar spine have been dismissed as she has withdrawn all remaining appeals.

The Veteran's lumbar spine disability, including herniated discs and degenerative disease, is found to be proximately aggravated by his service-connected right knee disability. The claim for increased rating of the right patella is granted.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings and service connection were denied. The Board found that the Veteran did not have a current sleep disorder, and her headaches met the criteria for a 10% rating.

The Veteran's claim for an increased evaluation for his service-connected back disability is being remanded due to the need for a new VA examination.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for increased ratings and service connection, finding that his right pelvis fracture with right hip degenerative joint disease warranted a 10 percent rating throughout the appeal period.

The Veteran's claims for right lower extremity radiculopathy, left lower extremity radiculopathy, scar residuals of the face and head, rhinitis, neck injury, low back injury, right hip disorder, left hip disorder, right upper extremity radiculopathy, and left upper extremity radiculopathy were all denied as not having their clinical onset in service or being otherwise related to active duty.,The Veteran's claim for service connection for sinusitis was not reopened due to the evidence received since December 2006 being cumulative or redundant of evidence at the time of the prior denial.

The Board has remanded the case due to the need for further development, including a VA examination and consideration of new evidence. The Veteran's claim for an increased evaluation for his low back strain is pending.

The Board has decided to remand the case for additional development, including obtaining specific dates of active and inactive duty training in the Air Force Reserves, updating VA treatment records, and scheduling a VA examination.

The Veteran's cervical spine disability was rated at 20 percent prior to February 11, 2011 and increased to 30 percent thereafter.

The Veteran's claim for a higher rating for his service-connected degenerative joint disease of the lumbar spine was granted, with a current disability rating of 20 percent. The issue of entitlement to TDIU due to service-connected disabilities is also addressed and resolved in favor of the Veteran.

The Veteran is seeking to reopen his claim for service connection of a low back disability. The Board has decided the case should be remanded due to incomplete records and the need to provide the Veteran with copies of the evidence from the February 1957 denial.