Back / lumbar spine Board decisions

The Veteran's appeal was dismissed due to his death during the pendency of the appeal.

The Board is remanding the case for further development, including obtaining VA treatment records from 2008 onwards and attempting to associate them with the Veteran's claims file.

The Board has remanded the case for a VA examination to determine if the Veteran's current low back disability is related to her in-service fall and whether it was aggravated by her pre-existing scoliosis.

The Veteran's service-connected degenerative disc and joint disease of the lumbar spine has been rated at 10 percent since separation from service. The cervical spine disability was initially rated as noncompensable, but was increased to 10 percent effective March 24, 2006.

The Veteran's claim for an initial rating in excess of 20 percent for his service-connected low back disorder was denied. The evidence did not show severe limitation of motion, intervertebral disc syndrome (IVDS), or chronic neurologic manifestations.

The Veteran asserts service connection for a low back disability and other conditions. The Board finds that additional verification of his Reserve service is needed.,The Veteran asserts service connection for bilateral hearing loss disability. The Board finds that additional verification of his Reserve service is needed and a new VA examination is necessary to determine the nature and etiology, including aggravation, of any hearing loss demonstrated to have existed either during service or prior to service.,The Veteran asserts service connection for gastrointestinal disability (GERD and hiatal hernia). The Board finds that additional verification of his Reserve service is needed and a new VA examination is necessary to determine the nature and etiology, including aggravation, of any gastrointestinal condition demonstrated to have existed either during service or prior to service.,The Veteran asserts service connection for chronic nasal allergies (sinusitis and/or rhinitis). The Board finds that additional verification of his Reserve service is needed and a new VA examination is necessary to determine the nature and etiology, including aggravation, of any chronic nasal allergy demonstrated to have existed either during service or prior to service.,The Veteran asserts service connection for pulmonary disability (bronchitis). The Board finds that additional verification of his Reserve service is needed and a new VA examination is necessary to determine the nature and etiology, including aggravation, of any bronchitis demonstrated to have existed either during service or prior to service.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for a low back disorder and a right knee disorder, finding that there is no evidence of chronic disability due to in-service injuries. The Board also found that continuity of symptomatology post-service does not support the claims.

The Board finds that the Veteran's low back disorder and leg length discrepancy are secondary to his service-connected right knee disability, warranting service connection.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for a low back disability and an increased rating for right knee patellofemoral pain syndrome, finding that new and material evidence had not been submitted to reopen the low back disability claim.

The Board has granted an initial evaluation of 10 percent for the lumbar spine disability and a 30 percent evaluation for the gastric ulcer disability, effective from July 31, 2004. The appellant's claim remains in appellate status as his increased rating claims are not yet resolved.

The Veteran withdrew his appeal regarding the propriety of apportionment of VA benefits, and thus the Board does not have jurisdiction to review it.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's thoracolumbar disability is related to service and grants service connection for this condition.

The Veteran's claims for service connection are being remanded due to the need for further development and examination.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded to obtain additional medical records and for VA examinations to assess the severity of his service-connected pes planus and lumbar strain.

The Veteran's service-connected spondylolysis at the lumbosacral level with mild anterolisthesis of L5 and S1 is currently rated as 40 percent disabling, which reflects a functional loss due to pain and repetitive movement resulting in forward flexion limited to 30 degrees or less.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to the need for a VA examination to determine if any current back trouble prior to induction was a manifestation of any current back disability.

The Veteran's chronic low back disability did not result in forward flexion of the thoracolumbar spine to 30 degrees or less, nor was there unfavorable ankylosis. The Board found that a higher rating is not warranted.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's low back disability is not related to her military service and denied her claim. The Board also found no current residuals of a broken right index finger, but noted that additional VA examination was needed to determine if such residuals exist.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for heart murmur, hypertension, cyst on liver, sinusitis, enlarged prostate, and low back disorder due to Agent Orange exposure were denied as there is no positive association between such conditions and his period of active military service.

The Board has reopened the claim for service connection for a low back and neck disorder, currently diagnosed as DDD at C2 through C7 and lumbar spine mild facet arthropathy. The case is remanded to determine if this condition is related to inservice automobile accident.