Back / lumbar spine Board decisions

The Veteran's low back strain is currently rated at 40 percent, but the evidence does not support a higher rating as his range of motion and functional loss do not warrant an evaluation in excess of 40 percent.

The Board has granted service connection for the Veteran's degenerative joint disease of the lumbar spine with left leg sciatica, finding that it is at least as likely as not related to his in-service injury.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient evidence regarding whether the low back disorder is related to service, including a parachute landing injury in 2002.

The Board finds that the Veteran did not have meningitis in service and there is no current evidence of a disability related to his in-service illness. Therefore, he does not meet the criteria for service connection.

The Veteran's claim for restoration of a 40 percent evaluation for his lumbar strain with degenerative joint disease and degenerative disc disease of the lumbar spine, associated with a right side pelvic fracture with deformity is granted.

The Board has determined that new and material evidence has not been received to reopen claims for service connection for a low back disorder, bilateral knee disorder, or hypertension. The claim for service connection for a left shoulder disorder is denied as there is no competent evidence of an in-service injury related to the current condition.

The Veteran's service connection claims for a lumbar spine condition, diabetes mellitus, rosacea, bilateral hip condition, onychomycosis, urticaria (urticaria), sinusitis, and fatigue were all denied. The claim for compensation under 38 U.S.C.A. § 1151 for urticaria was granted.

The Board denied all of the Veteran's claims, including service connection for carpal tunnel syndrome and obstructive sleep apnea. The low back disability claim was also denied as there is no evidence that it began during or because of service.

The Veteran's low back strain has been rated as 10 percent disabling from November 28, 2000 through March 11, 2009. The Board found that the disability did not warrant a higher rating during this period.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not meet the schedular criteria for a TDIU and are not shown to be unable to obtain and retain substantially gainful employment due solely to service-connected disability.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded due to the need for a Board video conference hearing. The original issues on appeal were denied, but the Court of Appeals for Veterans Claims (CAVC) vacated the decision and ordered readjudication.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for generalized arthritis and gout were denied. The low back disability was granted a higher evaluation.

The Board found that the Veteran's right, left knee disabilities and back disability were not caused or made worse by his service-connected pes cavus with callosities. The fall in 1973 is considered the primary cause of these conditions.

The Board finds that the Veteran's left knee osteoarthritis is incurred due to active service, and his low back disability is not attributable to service. The claim for a low back disability must be remanded.

The Board has ordered the VA to obtain additional medical records from Blanchfield Army Community Hospital and Peterson Air Force Base for further review of your claims.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for a chronic back disorder is being remanded due to the need for additional service treatment records and private medical records.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for various conditions, including right foot pes planus, left hip disability, cervical spine DDD, shoulder and upper extremity disabilities, lumbar spine DDD, bilateral knee disability, lower extremity nerve disability, fibromyalgia, and left ankle disability. The appeals were based on the submission of new and material evidence.

The Veteran's service-connected conditions do not prevent him from securing or following substantially gainful employment.

The Board denied increased ratings for the Veteran's service-connected fractured right ankle with degenerative joint disease and degenerative disc disease of the lumbosacral spine, finding that the evidence did not warrant a higher rating based on current symptoms.

The Veteran's service-connected lumbar spine disability is rated at 40 percent, effective December 22, 2008. The Veteran's residuals of pilonidal cystectomy are not considered for rating purposes as they do not meet the criteria for a separate disability rating.