Back / lumbar spine Board decisions

The Veteran's degenerative disc disease of the lumbar spine is currently rated at 20 percent, and the evidence does not support a higher rating.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including obtaining VA and private treatment records, as well as a VA orthopedic examination to determine if the Veteran's current low back disability is related to his service or any incident therein.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for increased ratings due to incomplete development and examination.

The Board found no evidence to support a service connection for post-traumatic discogenic disease of the lumbosacral spine, as there was no medical opinion linking current symptoms directly to military service.

The Veteran's claim for TDIU is being remanded due to the need for clarification on whether he is unable to secure or follow substantially gainful employment solely as a result of his service-connected conditions.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for dysthymia and low back syndrome are being remanded due to the need to consider additional evidence, including VA treatment records from a different facility. The nature of his service-connected conditions and their relationship to each other must also be clarified.

The Board has determined that the Veteran was not unemployable due to his service-connected disabilities prior to November 21, 2003. Therefore, an effective date earlier than November 21, 2003, for TDIU is denied.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for a low back disorder, finding that there was no current diagnosis of such condition and concluding that the preponderance of evidence did not support the claim.

The Board has remanded the case for another VA examination to determine if any low back and/or knee disability found is related to service or was manifested within one year of discharge.

The Veteran's appeal was dismissed due to the death of the appellant.

The Veteran's claims for higher ratings for lumbar disc disease, right knee traumatic arthritis, and residuals of right knee injury with chondromalacia patella and synovitis were denied as the evidence did not meet the criteria for a higher rating under the applicable VA rating schedule.

The Board has remanded the case for further proceedings consistent with a Court memorandum decision, including scheduling an appropriate VA examination to determine the nature and likely etiology of the Veteran's claimed back disability.

The Board dismissed the appeal due to the Veteran's death, and no jurisdiction remains for further action.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for postoperative residuals of lumbar and thoracic spine injuries are being remanded to the RO for further development.

The Veteran's service treatment records do not show a diagnosed back disorder. The Board finds that there is no competent evidence of a current back diagnosis, and therefore the claim for service connection for a back disorder is denied.

The Veteran's claim for higher initial ratings for his service-connected degenerative changes of the lumbar spine was denied. The VA awarded a higher rating (40 percent) effective January 15, 2010.

The Board has determined that severance of service connection for arthritis of the lumbar spine was proper due to a clear and unmistakable error in the October 2004 rating decision.

The Veteran's low back injury with a history of a herniated nucleus pulposus is currently rated at 20 percent, and the Board found that it does not meet the criteria for a higher rating based on current symptoms.

The Board found that the Veteran's current back disability did not begin in service and was not caused by any incident of service, thus denying his claim for service connection.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for a low back disability was granted with an effective date of December 29, 1992. The earlier submitted supporting medical nexus opinion is considered in this decision.