Back / lumbar spine Board decisions

The Veteran's claim for an increased rating for radiculopathy of the right upper extremity was denied as his condition did not meet the criteria for a higher than 10 percent rating.

The Board has granted a rating of 20 percent for the appellant's lumbar spine disability and denied any higher ratings. The claim for PTSD was also granted, with a separate rating of 10 percent for mild incomplete paralysis of the right lower extremity. The TDIU issue is granted as well.

The Board has granted service connection for low back strain. The Veteran's bilateral hip and leg disorders are being remanded for further examination and opinion.

The Veteran's appeal was dismissed as he withdrew his appeal for PTSD at the August 2010 hearing.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for further development, including a new VA examination to assess the current severity of his service-connected dorsolumbar strain.

The Veteran claims service connection for a low back disorder and a left hip condition, which she contends is related to her military service. The Board has determined that additional development is needed due to conflicting medical opinions regarding the nature and etiology of these conditions.

The Board found that there was no evidence of a low back disability in service and insufficient credible lay or medical evidence to establish continuity of symptomatology. Therefore, the claim for service connection for a low back disability was denied.

The Veteran's left shoulder disability, which included recurrent dislocations and limited range of motion, was found to be productive of infrequent recurrences with pain and limited function. The current evaluation of 20 percent is deemed insufficient given the Veteran's symptoms and findings.

The Veteran's appeal has been dismissed due to his death. The Board cannot proceed with the merits of this case as he is no longer alive.

The Board has determined that the Veteran does not have any hip, ankle, or knee disabilities that are related to his military service.

The Board has determined that new and material evidence has not been received to reopen the Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral wrist injury, bilateral foot injury, acquired psychiatric disorder (including PTSD, depression, and nervous/anxiety disorder), lumbar spine disorder, and epilepsy, partial complex. The claims were previously denied in December 2004 due to lack of evidence showing a nexus between these conditions and the Veteran's military service.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's thoracolumbar joint and disc disease is of service origin, granting service connection for this condition.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's current lower back disorders, including degenerative disc disease, lumbar spondylosis, stenosis, and sensory radiculopathy, are related to his military service. The appeal is granted.

The Veteran's claims for service connection, increased evaluation, and TDIU are being remanded due to incomplete examination reports. The VA examiner is requested to provide an addendum opinion regarding the presence of a left leg disorder and its relationship to his service-connected lumbosacral strain with sclerosis.

The Board found that the Veteran's currently diagnosed lumbar spine disability is not related to military service and denied her claim.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's osteoarthritis of the lumbar spine and left knee are likely caused by his service-connected right knee disability, warranting service connection for these conditions.

The Board has determined that there is no evidence of current disabilities for the bilateral lower legs or a low back disorder, and thus service connection cannot be established.

The Board has determined that new and material evidence has been received to reopen the claim of service connection for a low back disorder. The Veteran now has a current diagnosis of a low back disorder, which raises a reasonable possibility of substantiating his claim.

The Veteran's left hip and low back disorders are not service-connected. The Board has ordered additional development to determine if these conditions are related to his service-connected left knee disability.

The Board has granted the claim of service connection for tinnitus, finding that it was incurred in or aggravated by active duty service. The low back disability issue is remanded due to insufficient evidence regarding its relationship to service-connected pes planus.