Back / lumbar spine Board decisions

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including right shoulder bursitis, left shoulder bursitis, thoracolumbar spine disability, sinusitis, eosinophilic granule residuals, and cervical diskectomy with mild loss of range of motion, have resulted in a combined rating of 70 percent as of May 1, 2009. The Veteran meets the schedular criteria for a TDIU due to his service-connected disabilities precluding him from securing or following a substantially gainful occupation.

The Veteran's disability rating for DJD of the lumbar spine is denied as her symptoms do not meet or approximate the criteria for a higher rating.

The Veteran's claim for service connection of a back disability is being remanded due to the need for additional development, including obtaining Social Security Administration records and scheduling an orthopedic VA examination.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's low back disorder and right knee disorder were not incurred or aggravated in service, nor are they related to his service-connected left knee disorder. The claims for service connection have been denied.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings and TDIU are being remanded due to the need for additional development, including obtaining updated treatment records, arranging for VA examinations, and conducting a Social and Industrial Survey.

The Board has reopened the claims for service connection for lumbar spine stenosis, left foot injury, and stomach disorder. However, it is unable to establish a direct link between these conditions and service.

The Board has remanded the case for further development, including obtaining information about the Veteran's specific dates of service and any relevant medical records. The Veteran will also be provided an opportunity to respond after the additional development is completed.

The Veteran's degenerative disc disease of the lumbar spine from November 19, 2010 is rated at 40% due to limitation of flexion to 30 degrees and no evidence of favorable ankylosis or incapacitating episodes requiring bed rest.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional examinations and development of his claims due to increased severity of symptoms since the last VA examination.

The Veteran's claims for service connection and increased ratings were denied. The lumbar strain was rated 10 percent disabling, while the sinonasal disease did not meet criteria for a compensable rating.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional examinations to assess the current severity of his service-connected low back and right and left knee disabilities, as well as obtaining any relevant private treatment records.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining private medical records and providing the Veteran with VA examinations to address the existence and etiology of his claimed disabilities.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for arthritis of the right shoulder and low back are being remanded due to the need for a medical opinion regarding the onset and etiology of these conditions.

The Veteran's claimed conditions of joint pain, fibromyalgia, rheumatoid arthritis, polyarthralgia and arthritis of multiple joints (excluding right shoulder and lumbar spine) were not incurred in or aggravated by active service.

The Board found that the Veteran's current low back disability was not incurred in or aggravated by service and is not secondary to a service-connected condition.

The Veteran's degenerative joint disease of the thoracolumbar spine has likely approximated limitations of forward flexion to 30 degrees or less, warranting a 40 percent disability rating.

The Veteran's claim for service connection of a low back disorder is being remanded due to the need for additional medical examination and opinion regarding the relationship between his in-service fall and current back problems.

The Board finds that the Veteran's current left hip disability is not related to service and is not causally related to or aggravated by a service-connected lumbar spine disability.

The Board denied the appellant's claims of entitlement to accrued benefits based on service connection for a low back disorder and a lung disorder, finding that there was no evidence in the file at the time of the Veteran's death showing these conditions were related to his military service.

The Board found that the Veteran's current low back disabilities were not related to his service, and thus denied his claim for service connection.