Back / lumbar spine Board decisions

The Board has determined that new and material evidence has been presented to reopen the Veteran's claims for service connection for low back and left leg disabilities. The Veteran is now entitled to service connection for these conditions.

The Board found no evidence of a current disability related to the Veteran's first period of active service and denied his claims for service connection.

The Board has granted the Veteran's claims of service connection for headaches, but denied his claims for right shoulder disorder, dizziness, numbness of hands, cervical spine disorder, lumbar spine disorder, and psychiatric disorder.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's lumbar spine disorder is related to her military service and grants her claim for service connection.

The Veteran's service-connected left total knee replacement residuals are rated at 30 percent, which is the maximum schedular evaluation. The Board found that his disability does not meet or nearly approximate the criteria for a higher rating under any applicable diagnostic codes.

The Veteran's claim for an initial evaluation in excess of 10 percent for his service-connected posttraumatic disc disease of the lumbar spine is being remanded due to insufficient evidence and a need for a new VA examination.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's thoracolumbar spine disability is related to his active military service and grants this claim. The cervical spine disability issue remains unresolved.

The Veteran's increased rating claim for his low back disability was granted, and the effective date of the grant was set at June 5, 2006.

The Board has determined that new and material evidence was received to reopen the claims for service connection for low back disability and right knee disability. The Veteran's current low back disability is found to be at least as likely as not related to his lumbar strain during service, while there is no competent evidence showing a current bilateral hearing loss.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for higher ratings for mechanical low back pain and cervical osteoarthritis, finding that the evidence did not meet the criteria for a rating in excess of 10 percent prior to May 11, 2005, or 20 percent thereafter. The disability was rated based on its direct effects rather than any service connection theory.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for left ear hearing loss, a cervical spine disorder, a low back disorder, a left shoulder disorder, and bilateral carpal tunnel syndrome. The Veteran was granted service connection for pseudofolliculitis barbae, left distal forearm scar, and right ear hearing loss with noncompensable evaluations assigned to each.

The Veteran's L4-5 intervertebral disc syndrome is currently rated at 30% and his T/R prior to March 2007 remains pending. The RO has granted a rating of 30% for IVDS, but the Veteran contends that he should receive a higher rating.

The Veteran's low back disorder is not service-connected, and his combined rating for service-connected disabilities does not meet the criteria for TDIU.

The Board found that the Veteran's current low back disability, diagnosed as degenerative disc disease (DDD), was not incurred in or aggravated by active service. The VA examiner concluded it is less likely than not related to any incident of his military service.

The Veteran's appeal for higher initial evaluations for residuals of a right ankle fracture, right ankle scar, and residual numbness of the tip of the right middle finger due to suture has been denied.,The Veteran withdrew his appeal regarding service connection for folliculitis.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's low back disability is related to service, and thus grants service connection for this condition.

The Veteran's upper back disorder and right leg condition are currently rated at 20 percent and 10 percent, respectively. The Board finds that the evidence does not support a higher rating for either condition.

The Veteran's spondylolisthesis of the lumbar spine, status post lumbar spine surgery with right radiculopathy is currently rated at 40 percent and denied for a higher rating.

The Board finds that the Veteran's thoracolumbar spine disorder and degenerative disc disease were not caused by VA medical treatment, and thus compensation under 38 U.S.C.A. § 1151 is denied. The cervical spine disorder was also not service-connected as secondary to the thoracolumbar spine disorder.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's current right knee, left knee, and back disabilities are not related to his military service. The evidence does not show any specific injuries or diagnoses during service, and there is no competent medical opinion linking these conditions to his time in the military.