Back / lumbar spine Board decisions

The Veteran's service-connected low back injury with degenerative disc disease is currently rated at 40 percent, effective from the date of this decision.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for hemorrhoids, cervical spine disorder, left foot injury, and leg numbness and cramping. The claim for a lumbar spine disorder was not reopened due to lack of new and material evidence.

The Veteran's low back disability has been productive of slight limitation of motion, lumbosacral strain with characteristic pain on motion, flexion of the thoracolumbar spine greater than 60 degrees, combined range of motion of the thoracolumbar spine greater than 120 degrees, and one incapacitating episode. The criteria for a disability rating in excess of 10 percent have not been met.

The Board has remanded the claims for further development due to a request for a Travel Board hearing.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's back disability did not originate in service and is not related to any incident of service. Therefore, the claim for service connection for a back disability is denied.

The Veteran's claim for a rating in excess of 60 percent for degenerative disc disease and degenerative joint disease, lumbosacral and thoracic spine was denied. The issue of service connection for left sciatica, secondary to the service-connected back disability, was also denied.

The Board affirmed the RO's decision to deny the Veteran's claims for increased ratings for his right and left knee disabilities. The Veteran's lumbar spine and bilateral ankle disabilities were denied as new and material evidence was not received to reopen these previously denied claims. Service connection for ulcers and an acquired psychiatric disorder was also denied.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded for additional development, including obtaining medical records and scheduling examinations to determine the nature and etiology of his claimed conditions.

The Veteran's initial increased evaluation for his L1 fracture and degenerative disc disease of the thoracic and lumbar spine was granted, with a rating of 20 percent effective April 28, 2008. The current disability is rated as 40% disabling due to ankylosis.

The Board found that the evidence does not support a finding of service connection for the appellant's current disability manifested by pain and weakness in the low back, lower extremities, ankles, and feet.

The Veteran's claims for service connection have been denied. The Board found that the evidence received since the June 2001 rating decision does not relate to an unestablished fact necessary to substantiate any of the claims and does not raise a reasonable possibility of substantiating any of the claims.

The Veteran's claim for TDIU is being remanded due to the need for additional development, including a VA examination to assess her ability to secure and follow substantially gainful employment given her service-connected disabilities.

The Board has determined that there is no evidence of a current disability related to active military service for any of the claimed conditions. Service connection was denied for lumbar spine disorder, bilateral knee disorder, hypertension, sinusitis, and laryngitis.

The Board has determined that additional development is needed to address the Veteran's claim for service connection for a low back disorder, including intervertebral disc syndrome. This includes providing proper VCAA notice and obtaining relevant National Guard service records.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded due to the need for a more current VA examination and consideration of any associated neurologic impairment.

The Board found that the Veteran's current degenerative disc disease, status-post L4 to L5 laminectomy, is not related to service and denied his claim. The Board also found no evidence linking sleep apnea to service.

The Veteran's service-connected DDD of the lumbar spine is currently rated at 10 percent, effective December 1, 2006. The disability picture more nearly approximates that of muscle spasm or guarding severe enough to result in abnormal gait or spinal contour such as scoliosis, reversed lordosis, or kyphosis.

The Board has determined that the appellant's lumbar spine and right ankle disabilities do not warrant increased evaluations as they have not been manifested by ankylosis, incapacitating episodes, or marked limitation of motion.

The Veteran's low back disability has been manifested by complaints of pain and functional impairment, with no incapacitating episodes. The VA rating board found that the evidence did not meet the criteria for a higher rating under any applicable diagnostic code.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim of service connection for a low back disorder, finding no evidence of a current disability related to his period of service.