Back / lumbar spine Board decisions

The Board has remanded the case for further development, including obtaining VA treatment records and a medical opinion regarding the relationship between the Veteran's current low back disorder and her service.

The Board denied service connection for a cervical spine disability and denied an increased rating for thoracolumbar spine disability. The Veteran's cervical spine disability is not related to his service-connected thoracolumbar spine disability, but rather due to post-service injuries. The initial 20% evaluation for the thoracolumbar spine disability remains unchanged.

The Veteran's claim for an increased rating in excess of 40 percent for degenerative arthritis of the low back was denied. The appeal will be further reviewed as part of a REMAND process.

The Veteran's service-connected traumatic and degenerative arthritis of the lumbar spine with disc bulges is currently rated at 40 percent, effective from the date of the January 2010 rating decision. The Veteran also has a separate compensable disability rating for right leg radiculopathy secondary to his spinal condition.

The Veteran's degenerative disc disease of the lumbar spine is currently rated at 10 percent, effective April 29, 1993. The claim for a higher rating has been denied.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development of his claims, including obtaining private medical records and VA treatment records.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for increased rating for ACL deficiency, left knee; service connection for a back disorder secondary to her service-connected left knee disability; and TDIU.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, when evaluated in association with his educational attainment and occupational experience, preclude all forms of substantially gainful employment.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded to the RO for a Board videoconference hearing. The case will be returned to the Board after the hearing.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including systemic lupus erythematosus with anemia, thrombocytopenia, polyarthralgias and leucopenia, bronchitis (to include asthma), right knee arthritis, low back strain, temporomandibular joint subluxation, hypertension, and tarsal tunnel syndrome of the right foot, combine to a level of overall disablement that would likely render her unemployable given her vocational and educational circumstances. The Board finds that a TDIU rating is warranted.

The Board denied service connection for a left ankle condition and a low back condition, as well as the increased rating and separate disability ratings for the Veteran's service-connected knee disability.

The Veteran's service-connected low back disability is now rated at 10 percent effective January 2, 2008.

The Board found that the Veteran's back disability was not incurred in or aggravated by service and arthritis may not be presumed to have been incurred therein.

The Board found that there is no evidence of a low back disability during service or for many years thereafter, and the Veteran's current condition cannot be linked to his active duty. The claim for service connection was denied.

The Board has granted service connection for lumbar spine disc disease, spondylosis, and spondylolisthesis. The issue of service connection for diabetes mellitus with polyneuropathy is remanded.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for a back condition and TDIU due to lack of evidence linking his current disability to service. The Veteran was granted a higher rating for PTSD.

The Board finds that the evidence is at least in relative equipoise regarding whether the Veteran's low back disability was incurred during his active duty. The claim for service connection is granted.

The Veteran does not have a diagnosed left hip, low back, right knee, or left knee disability that was incurred in or aggravated by active duty service.

The Board has granted the Veteran's claim of entitlement to service connection for a back disorder, as secondary to his service-connected right ankle disability.

The Veteran's service-connected degenerative joint and disc disease of the lumbar spine is manifested by incapacitating episodes having a total duration of approximately 6 weeks during a 12 month period, which meets the criteria for a 60 percent rating.