Back / lumbar spine Board decisions

The Board has determined that the Veteran did not present new and material evidence to reopen his claim for service connection for psychogenic musculo-skeletal reaction manifested by low back and hip pain, which was previously denied in May 1960 due to lack of evidence showing aggravation during service.

The Veteran's postoperative residuals of a fracture at L1 are rated at 50 percent, effective from the date of his claim. The left knee instability disability remains rated at 10 percent.

The Veteran's appeal is denied as his service-connected recurrent subluxation or instability of the left knee due to traumatic arthritis and rupture of the ACL does not warrant a disability rating greater than 10 percent.

The Veteran's service-connected lumbosacral spine discogenic disease is currently rated at 40 percent since February 22, 2006. The rating takes into account moderate limitation of motion with forward flexion of 25 degrees and mild incomplete paralysis of the bilateral lower extremities.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for depression secondary to his service-connected lumbar disc disease was granted, effective June 25, 2007. The rating assigned is 10 percent.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including a VA spine examination to determine if the Veteran's diagnosed chronic lumbosacral strain with degenerative changes is related to military service.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including scheduling a hearing before the Decision Review Officer and potentially a Travel Board hearing if necessary.

The Veteran's low back strain has been rated at 10 percent, and the Board found that a higher rating is not warranted. The TDIU claim was also denied as her service-connected disability did not render her unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation.

The Veteran's low back disability was previously rated at 40 percent from April 24, 2001 to July 20, 2010. The Board has now granted a higher rating of 60 percent effective July 20, 2010.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's back disability was not incurred in or related to his period of active military service. The evidence does not show a link between his current back pain and any incident during service, including an episode of thoracic spine pain in 1997.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings were denied. The intervertebral disc disease of the thoracolumbar spine was rated at 40 percent, sensory radiculopathy of the left leg prior to May 13, 2010 was not compensable, and beginning on May 13, 2010, it was rated at 10 percent. The residuals of a vasectomy were also rated at 10 percent.

The Board found that the Veteran's low back disorder and varicose veins of the right leg were not caused or aggravated by his service-connected left knee disability. The VA examiner concluded that these conditions were more likely related to the Veteran's age, work-related injuries, and physically demanding job with USPS.

The Board found that new and material evidence had not been submitted to reopen the claims for cervical and lumbar spine disorders, as well as head injury residuals and an acquired psychiatric disorder. The claim of service connection for a cervical spine disorder was denied due to lack of competent medical evidence linking the condition to military service. Similar findings were made regarding the lumbar spine disorder and head injury residuals. Regarding the acquired psychiatric disorder, the Board noted that while the appellant had been diagnosed with various mental health conditions, there was no competent medical evidence linking these disorders to his military service.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim of entitlement to service connection for a low back disability due to insufficient evidence and development.

The Veteran's back disability was granted a 40 percent rating effective November 18, 2008. He also received separate ratings for sensory deficit of the right lower extremity and radiculopathy of the left lower extremity.

The Veteran's degenerative disc disease of the cervical spine does not meet the criteria for an evaluation in excess of 10 percent.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's back disorder was incurred in service and granted service connection for this condition. The hip disorder claim is remanded.

The Board found that the Veteran's current low back disorder is not related to her military service and denied her claim for service connection.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining updated VA treatment records and scheduling a VA examination to assess the current severity of his service-connected right knee scar, right knee postoperative residuals, and bilateral pes planus.

The Board has granted service connection for a sinus disorder and a low back disorder, finding that these conditions are related to the Veteran's active service. The low back disorder is also found to be secondary to his service-connected cervical spine disorder.