Back / lumbar spine Board decisions

The Board has denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for a back disability, finding that there is no evidence to support a link between her current condition and her military service.

The Veteran's cervical spine disability is rated at 60 percent, effective June 26, 1997. The claim for earlier effective date for service connection of right upper extremity radiculopathy is granted and the effective date is set at June 26, 1997. The Veteran is also awarded TDIU.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including obtaining VA treatment records and scheduling a new examination. The issues of service connection for back disability, evaluation in excess of 30 percent for paralysis of the left upper plexus, C5-C6, and compensable evaluation for fracture of the left scapula remain on appeal.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for arthritic changes of the lumbar spine and PTSD were denied. The Veteran's arthritic changes of the lumbar spine are currently rated at 10 percent, while his PTSD is also rated at 10 percent.

The Board has ordered a remand to search for and obtain VA treatment records from Miami VAMC, which may provide evidence of the Veteran's back disability during service. The case will be readjudicated after these records are located.

The Veteran's appeal has been withdrawn by the appellant through his authorized representative.

The Veteran's lumbosacral strain and sciatica have been rated at the maximum allowable under current criteria. The Board has determined that a higher rating is not warranted based on the evidence of record.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's currently diagnosed degenerative joint disease of the lumbar spine is caused or aggravated by his service-connected degenerative joint disease of the right knee, and thus grants secondary service connection for this condition.

The Board found that the Veteran's left hip, foot, and lumbar spine disabilities were not caused or aggravated by his service or a service-connected disability.

The Board has decided to remand the case for additional development, including obtaining service treatment records and a VA examination.

The Board has remanded the case for further development, including verification of the Veteran's qualifying service in the West Virginia National Guard and a supplemental statement from the VA examiner regarding any potential connection between his low back disorder and this additional service.

The Veteran's claims for higher initial ratings for service-connected lumbar disc herniation and right lower radiculopathy, as well as his requests to establish service connection for various knee and hip disabilities, are being remanded due to the need for additional examinations and development of records.

The Board denied the claim for service connection for low back disability, finding that there was no evidence of a current disability related to service.

The Board found that the Veteran's low back, right hip, and right leg disabilities are not causally or etiologically related to service or his service-connected residuals of a shrapnel wound. Therefore, service connection for these conditions is denied.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's current low back disorder is not related to service and was not caused or aggravated by a service-connected right knee disability.

The Veteran has withdrawn his appeal for service connection of a low back disability. As there are no remaining issues, the appeal is dismissed.

The VA determined that the Veteran's chronic low back disorder was not incurred in or aggravated by service, and arthritis is not presumed to have been incurred due to lack of evidence.

The Veteran's compensable evaluation for residuals of an injury to the coccyx and sacrum is granted at a rating of 10 percent.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's current degenerative disc disease of the lumbar spine and residuals of a left knee injury are not related to his military service.

The Board found no evidence of a lumbar or cervical spine disability during service and denied the Veteran's claims for service connection as there was insufficient medical evidence to link current disabilities to service.