Back / lumbar spine Board decisions

The Board has determined that the Veteran's current bilateral ankle, knee, and low back disabilities are related to his in-service right tibia fracture. As such, service connection is granted for these conditions.

The Board found that the Veteran's preexisting degenerative disc disease, lumbar spine, residuals of fractured L4 likely increased in severity during his second period of active service. The claim is granted as the disability was aggravated by service.

The Veteran's claims for higher ratings for her cervical and lumbar spine disabilities have been denied as the evidence does not meet the criteria for a disability rating in excess of 10 percent.

The Veteran's claims for increased evaluation of service-connected degenerative disc disease, bilateral knee disability, and bilateral wrist and hand disability (claimed as carpal tunnel syndrome) were denied. The Board found that the evidence did not support a higher rating for the lumbar spine condition or establish service connection for the claimed disabilities.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for higher evaluations for cervical and lumbar spine arthritis, finding that his disability did not meet the criteria for a rating in excess of 10 percent.

The Board has granted a rating of 40 percent for the orthopedic manifestations of the Veteran's low back disability, effective from November 4, 2009. The Veteran previously had a 20 percent evaluation prior to that date.

The Board has remanded the case to the RO for further development of the evidence and due process development, including scheduling a VA orthopedic examination.

The Board found that the Veteran does not have a chronic back disability related to service and denied his claim for service connection.

The Board has determined that the appeal is remanded due to the need for additional development, including obtaining medical records and scheduling VA examinations.

The Veteran's claims of entitlement to service connection for chronic low back injury residuals and chronic urinary tract infections have been granted. The claim for dysmenorrhea remains pending.

The Veteran's initial claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss was denied in an April 1998 rating decision. The Board found that new and material evidence had not been received to reopen the claim, resulting in a denial of this issue. The back disorder issue remains pending.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for further development due to issues regarding service connection for various spinal and neurological conditions, as well as sleep apnea. The case will be returned to the RO via the AMC for this purpose.

The Veteran's appeal for an earlier effective date for TDIU was denied as he had not been found unemployable prior to December 1, 2004. The Veteran's claim for increased rating of chronic neck pain with radicular symptoms down the right arm is dismissed due to withdrawal.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining medical records and scheduling a VA examination to determine the nature and etiology of his claimed back and hip disorders.

The Board granted service connection for a right shoulder disability and assigned an initial 20 percent rating effective July 24, 2008. The Veteran's claims for tendinitis of the right wrist and low back disorder were also granted.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities have a combined rating of 90 percent, with at least one disability rated 40 percent or more. The Veteran is unable to secure and follow substantially gainful employment due to his service-connected disabilities.

The Veteran's claims for increased evaluations for his spine and hand conditions were denied. The Veteran's thoracolumbar spine condition was found to have flexion greater than 60 degrees but not exceeding 85 degrees, without any incapacitating episodes of IVDS. His cervical spine condition had flexion greater than 30 degrees but with mild reversal of the lordosis in the upper cervical spine due to paraspinal muscle spasm. The bilateral pes planus and left wrist neuropathy conditions were found to be noncompensable. The right epididymitis/variocele condition was also found to be noncompensable.

The Veteran is granted a separate initial 10 percent rating for left lower extremity radiculopathy since January 9, 2006. The claim for an increased rating for degenerative arthritis of the lumbar spine remains denied. Service connection for PTSD and memory loss are also denied.

The Veteran's claim for an increased rating for lumbosacral sprain was denied as the evidence did not show that his symptoms more nearly approximated the criteria for a higher rating under the General Rating Formula for Diseases and Injuries of the Spine.

The Veteran's appeal was dismissed due to his death.