Back / lumbar spine Board decisions

The Veteran's PTSD, low back disability, and migraine headaches are all service-connected. The hearing loss and sleep disorder claims remain pending.

The Veteran's mid to lower back disorder and PTSD have been granted service connection, with the back disorder receiving a 30 percent rating.

The Board has granted service connection for a low back disorder, diagnosed as degenerative disc disease and spondylolisthesis. The issue of entitlement to TDIU is pending.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims of service connection for mid-back and low back disabilities, finding no evidence of such conditions during or after service.

The Veteran's claim for service connection of his upper back disability is being remanded due to the need for a VA examination.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for a low back disorder was denied as there is no competent medical evidence linking his current degenerative joint disease to his military service.

The Veteran's service-connected cervical spondylosis, thoracic and lumbar degenerative disc diseases have not been shown to warrant a rating in excess of the current ratings.

The Veteran's claim for an effective date prior to February 1, 2005 for TDIU was denied as the earliest ascertainable date of increased disability was February 1, 2005.,The Veteran's claim for an effective date prior to February 1, 2005 for DEA eligibility was denied as he did not meet the criteria for permanent and total disability prior to that date.

The Veteran has withdrawn his appeals for increased ratings for postoperative herniated nucleus pulposus of the lumbar spine and postoperative residuals of anterior cruciate ligament tear, right knee. The Board has dismissed these matters as a result.

The Veteran's claim for a higher rating for his right hip DJD was denied, as the evidence did not show that his disability met or approximated the criteria for a higher rating. His claims for service connection of lumbar spine disorders and TDIU were also denied.

The Board has determined that new and material evidence has been received to reopen the claims for service connection for a back disorder, bilateral leg disorders, MSRA infection of the buttocks, residuals of left hand injury with tremors, shrapnel wound of the left lung, discolored gums, and loss of teeth. However, service connection is denied as none of these conditions are related to military service or exposure to chemical dioxins.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for chronic lumbar strain with degenerative disc disease of the lumbar spine and right-sided radiation of pain, as well as bilateral chondromalacia of the knees, were denied. The Veteran's lumbar condition is currently rated at 10 percent disabling, while his knee conditions are noncompensably (zero percent) rated.

The Board denied service connection for cervical spine, low back, right knee, right hip, and right leg disabilities on a direct basis.

The Board has granted service connection for left eye diplopia and found that the Veteran's pre-existing condition was aggravated by active military service. Service connection is denied for a back disorder, as new evidence does not relate to an unestablished fact necessary to substantiate the claim.

The Veteran's service connection claims for back/low back strain, neck pain/myofascial pain syndrome of the neck, weight loss, and right knee disorder have been denied as they are not related to active service.,No presumptive service connection is granted due to undiagnosed illness or chronic multisymptom illness.

The Board denied service connection for a lumbar spine disability, finding that the Veteran's reports of in-service injuries are not credible and that there is no evidence linking his current back disability to active service.

The Veteran does not have a low back disability that is related to his military service and the claim for service connection is denied.

The Board has granted service connection for degenerative arthritis of the cervical spine and thoracolumbar spine, but denied any increase in ratings beyond the initial 10 percent assigned. The Veteran's cervical spine disability is currently rated at 20 percent since September 18, 1997, while his thoracolumbar spine disability is rated at 20 percent effective January 24, 2006.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for a back disorder is being remanded due to the need for additional development and consideration.

The Board has granted service connection for PTSD, which is a direct link between the Veteran's in-service stressors and his current psychiatric disability. The appeals for back disability and migraines have been withdrawn by the Veteran.