Back / lumbar spine Board decisions

The Board has reopened the claims for service connection for hypertension, bursitis of the right shoulder, residuals of a low back injury, and residuals of a neck injury. The case is remanded to further develop these claims on the merits.

The Board has remanded the claim for further development and consideration, including a VA examination to determine the presence or absence of lumbar radiculopathy.

The Board found that the Veteran's low back disorder did not originate in service and is not related to his service-connected plantar warts. The VA examiner concluded that the current low back condition was not caused by or aggravated by the service-connected plantar warts.

The Board found no relationship between the Veteran's degenerative joint disease of the lumbar spine and her service-connected muscle strain, concluding that there is no evidence to support a secondary service connection.

The Veteran's low back strain was rated at 20% prior to July 6, 2009. As of July 6, 2009, the rating for his condition has been increased to 40%. The current evaluation is based on severe limitation of motion.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's degenerative disc and joint disease of the cervical spine without evidence of radiculopathy is related to his active military service, granting service connection for this condition.

The Board found that the Veteran's low back condition is not related to his service and denied his claim for service connection.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded due to his request for a hearing before the Board of Veterans' Appeals.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for a back disorder was denied as there is no current diagnosis of such a condition.

The Veteran's claims for service connection and initial ratings for bilateral hip disorder, major depression, and low back disorder have been denied. The Board found that the evidence did not support a finding of in-service injury or disease resulting in these conditions.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's claimed shoulder, hip, and lower extremity disorders are not related to service. The preponderance of evidence does not support a finding that these conditions were incurred during active duty or within one year thereafter.

The Board has determined that an examination is necessary to determine the nature of any current low back disability and its relationship to service. The Veteran's claim will be remanded for further development.

The Veteran's low back pain is not related to his military service and the Board finds that he does not have a disability manifested by low back pain that is related to service.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for a lumbar spine disorder and a left hip disorder, to include as secondary to the lumbar spine disorder, were denied. The Veteran also withdrew his appeals regarding entitlement to service connection for allergies and chronic upper respiratory infections.

The Board found no evidence of a current disability related to service for the Veteran's back and hip disorders, and thus denied her claims.

The Veteran seeks service connection for a neck disability, which he claims is related to his service-connected lumbar spine condition. The Board has determined that additional development is needed due to the complexity of the issues and potential need for medical examination.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for increased ratings for his right and left knee disorders, lumbar sprain, recurrent kidney stones, and headaches. The Veteran was granted an initial compensable rating of 10 percent for headaches effective June 26, 2009.

The Veteran's DDD is not manifested by forward flexion of the thoracolumbar spine greater than 30 degrees but not greater than 60 degrees, a combined range of motion of the thoracolumbar spine not greater than 120 degrees, or muscle spasms or guarding severe enough to result in abnormal gait or abnormal spinal contour. Therefore, his DDD does not meet the criteria for a rating in excess of 10 percent.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for right hip disorder, arthritis of the right lower extremity, and arthritis of the right ankle as secondary to his service-connected mechanical low back strain were denied.,His claim for a separate disability rating for arthritis of the back was also denied. The RO granted him an increased disability rating for radiculopathy of the right lower extremity.

The Veteran's claims for higher initial ratings for his service-connected low back condition, bilateral knee conditions, and ankle disabilities have been denied. The VA examiners found that the Veteran's range of motion did not meet the criteria for a higher rating under the General Rating Formula for Diseases and Injuries of the Spine.