Back / lumbar spine Board decisions

The Veteran's cervical spine and lumbar spine conditions are not service connected as they were not shown during active duty or within one year of discharge. The upper respiratory infection claim is denied due to lack of evidence showing a current disability.

The Veteran's appeal has been withdrawn, and the case is dismissed.

The Board found no evidence linking the Veteran's current back or hip disorders to his military service, and denied both claims for service connection.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development of his claims, including obtaining Social Security Administration records and inpatient treatment records from the Naval Hospital on Parris Island. The case will also be adjudicated again after these developments.

The Board found no evidence of a chronic low back disorder during service and insufficient evidence to establish a nexus between the current low back disorder and active service. The claim for service connection is therefore denied.

The Veteran's postoperative degenerative disc disease of the lumbar spine presents an exceptional disability picture, warranting referral to the Director of Compensation and Pension for consideration of an extraschedular rating.

The Veteran's current cervical spine, lumbar spine, bilateral knee, and bilateral hip disabilities are not related to his service. The Board finds that the evidence does not support a finding of service connection for these conditions.

The Veteran's service-connected spondylosis, L5-S1, with chronic lumbar strain is currently rated at 20 percent prior to April 19, 2010, and 40 percent thereafter. The appeal for a higher rating remains denied.

The Veteran's right hip pain is attributed to his service-connected degenerative disc disease of the lumbar spine. The Veteran's photophobia is considered a symptom of an undiagnosed illness incurred during active military service.

The Veteran's service-connected traumatic arthritis of the thoracolumbar spine is currently rated at 20 percent, and the VA finds that it does not warrant a higher rating based on current symptomatology.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's left middle finger injury and low back disability are related to service, granting service connection for both conditions.

The Veteran's claims for higher ratings for his service-connected left ankle fracture, right ankle injury, herniated nucleus pulposus of the lumbar spine, and bilateral hearing loss have been denied. The evidence does not support a rating in excess of the current assigned ratings.

The Board has remanded the case for further examination and consideration due to inadequate analysis in the original decision.

The Veteran withdrew her appeal of the claims for service connection for thoracolumbar spine, right hip and right knee disabilities and a bilateral eye disorder prior to the Board's decision.

The Veteran's current degenerative disc disease is not related to service and the Board finds that it did not manifest during or within one year after service.

The Veteran's appeals for increased evaluations and service connection have been withdrawn by his representative.

The Board denied entitlement to an effective date earlier than March 7, 2005 for PTSD and denied reopening of claims for left leg, hip, and neck disabilities. The Veteran's low back disability was found to be service connected as secondary to his service-connected residuals of a gunshot wound to the left foot.

The Board has determined that new and material evidence has not been presented to reopen the Veteran's claim for service connection for a lumbar spine disability.

The Veteran's claims for service connection and increased evaluation are being remanded due to the need for additional development, including obtaining medical records and scheduling examinations.

The Veteran's diabetes mellitus, Type II is related to his military service and has been granted. The issues of back disorder and PTSD are remanded for further development.