Back / lumbar spine Board decisions

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded due to the need for updated VA examinations to assess the current severity of his lumbar spine and knee disabilities, as the previous November 2007 examinations are considered inadequate.

The Veteran's left knee disability is service-connected, and the Board has found that his right knee, left foot, right foot, left hip, and low back disabilities are also related to his service-connected left knee disability. The appeal for these additional conditions is granted.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining medical records and providing a VA physician with appropriate expertise to review the claims folder and provide opinions on whether his service-connected left knee disability either proximately caused or aggravated his hip or low back disabilities.

The Board has found that the reduction of the Veteran's lumbar spine disability rating from 20% to 10% was not proper, and this issue is being remanded for further action.

The Board has granted service connection for bilateral pes planus and found that it was aggravated by military service. The lower back disorder is not currently addressed in the decision.

The Board has remanded the case for further development, including securing Social Security Administration records and scheduling a VA examination.

The Veteran's Type II diabetes mellitus is denied as not incurred in or aggravated by active military service. The residuals of right ankle injury, degenerative joint disease of the lumbar spine with a compression fracture at the first lumbar vertebra, and left clavicle fracture are evaluated based on their current manifestations.

The Board denied service connection for various conditions, including a back disorder, left hip disorder, left leg disorder, left ankle disorder, and peripheral neuropathy of the left lower extremity. The evidence did not support a finding that these conditions were incurred or aggravated during active service.

The Board has remanded the case for further development due to issues related to service connection for back and left wrist disabilities.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including obtaining VA examination reports and medical records. The Veteran's claims for service connection are pending.

The Veteran withdrew his appeal for the claims related to his low back and left shoulder injuries, as well as the claim of service connection for a left knee disability.

The Board denied service connection for a right ankle disability and a low back disability, finding that the Veteran's current disabilities were not proximately due to or caused by his service-connected conditions.

The Board found that the Veteran's hypertension is not related to her active service and denied her claim for service connection.,There is no evidence of a low back disability during service or within one year following separation from active service, and there is no competent medical evidence linking any current back disability to the Veteran's periods of active service.

The Board found that the Veteran's upper back disability was not incurred or aggravated by his active duty service and denied the claim.

The Board has remanded the case due to the need for additional medical records and further development of the claim.

The Veteran's service-connected low back disability is currently rated at 20 percent prior to May 26, 2009 and 40 percent beginning on that date.,Additionally, the Veteran is separately entitled to a 10 percent evaluation for his right-sided mild incomplete paralysis of the sciatic nerve.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for his lumbosacral strain and degenerative arthritis, as well as right knee chondromalacia patella and right hip disability, were denied. The Board found that the current ratings adequately reflected the severity of the disabilities.

The Veteran's service-connected musculoligamentous strain of the lumbar spine with right lower extremity radiculopathy is currently rated at 10 percent, which is the maximum schedular rating available under Diagnostic Code 5237.

The Board found that the Veteran's current back disabilities are not related to his military service and denied his claim for service connection.

The Veteran's appeals for service connection have been withdrawn, and the cases are dismissed.