Back / lumbar spine Board decisions

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for further development, including scheduling VA examinations and obtaining additional medical records. The issues of increased ratings for generalized anxiety disorder with headaches and lumbosacral strain are also being addressed.

The Board has reopened the Veteran's claim for service connection for a low back disability, including spondylosis L5 with grade 1 spondylolisthesis. The evidence shows that the Veteran had preexisting degenerative spine disease which worsened during service and is related to his current condition.

The Board has determined that a remand is necessary to obtain additional medical evidence and provide the Veteran with an opportunity for a VA examination.

The Veteran's service-connected degenerative joint disease and degenerative disc disease of the low back was rated at 10 percent prior to August 12, 2002. The Board found that there was no evidence of more than slight limitation of motion or other compensable symptoms during this period.

The Veteran's low back disability is currently rated at 20 percent, but the Board finds that a higher 40 percent rating is warranted based on his symptoms of paraspinous muscle spasms and limited motion.

The Veteran's service-connected cervical spine and lumbosacral spine disabilities are rated at 30 percent and 20 percent, respectively. The Board finds that the weight of evidence is in approximate balance and with resolution of doubt in favor of the Veteran, granting higher ratings for his disabilities.

The Board has determined that the Veteran does not have a current chronic back disability and therefore, service connection for a back disability is denied.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for increased ratings for his service-connected degenerative disc disease of the thoracolumbar spine and chronic left ankle sprain, finding that the evidence did not meet the criteria for a higher rating under applicable VA regulations.

The Board has ordered the VA to obtain all outstanding records and schedule the Veteran for a spine examination. The appeal will be remanded for further development.

The Veteran's low back disability, evaluated as 40 percent disabling, is not rated higher due to the current evidence of record.

The Veteran's DJD of the lumbar spine, right shoulder, and left ankle are rated at 40 percent effective July 28, 2008. The rating for his right shoulder is increased to 20 percent from that date.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining medical records and scheduling a VA examination.

The Veteran's lumbosacral strain is rated at 10 percent since June 6, 2005. The appeal for a higher initial evaluation was denied.,Service connection for the left shoulder disorder and left knee disorder were granted with respective initial evaluations of 20% and 10%. The appeals for higher initial evaluations were denied.,The Veteran's right knee disorder is rated at zero percent since June 6, 2005. The appeal for a higher initial evaluation was denied until November 23, 2006 when the rating was increased to 10%.,Service connection for the right shoulder disorder was not granted.

The Board has remanded the case due to the need for additional development and notification of efforts made by VA to obtain relevant records.

The Board has affirmed the RO's denial of service connection for lumbosacral sublux/strain/sprain.

The Board denied service connection for a back disorder, heart disorder, and peripheral neuropathy of the upper extremities. The Veteran's current back condition is not due to or related to in-service disease or injury.

The Veteran's claim for an increased rating for his degenerative disc disease of the thoracolumbar spine was denied as there is no evidence showing forward flexion of the thoracolumbar spine less than or equal to 30 degrees, extension of zero to 10 degrees, left lateral flexion of zero to 20 degrees, and right lateral flexion of zero to 20 degrees. The Veteran did not have incapacitating episodes having a total duration of at least four weeks but less than six weeks during the past twelve months.

The Board has remanded the case for further development, including a medical examination to determine if the Veteran's low back disorder is secondary to his service-connected left knee disability.

The Veteran's initial claim for a higher rating for his degenerative disc disease of the lumbar spine was denied prior to December 12, 2009. After that date, he received an increased rating to 20 percent effective from December 12, 2009.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for radiculopathy of the lower extremities and degenerative disc disease with degenerative joint disease of the lumbosacral spine were denied. The Veteran is not entitled to an initial rating in excess of 10 percent for either condition.