Back / lumbar spine Board decisions

The Board has determined that the Veteran's low back strain is service-connected and has granted a noncompensable rating. The Veteran's bilateral shin splints have also been granted, but are currently rated as noncompensable.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for right knee status post total knee arthroplasty and lumbar spinal stenosis status post laminectomy, finding that there was no evidence of a nexus between these conditions and his active service or any service-connected disability.

The Board found that a chronic upper back disability was not exhibited in service and the preponderance of evidence is against finding any current upper back disability related to active military service.

The Veteran seeks service connection for bilateral hip, back, shoulder, and arm disabilities. The Board has remanded the case for additional development.

The Board has determined that there is no evidence of a direct service connection for the Veteran's lumbar spine disability, and it is not secondary to his right knee disorder. The nasal injury was also denied as there is insufficient evidence linking the current sinusitis and deviated septum to military service.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded for issuance of a Statement of the Case on his claims for higher initial ratings for left hip disorder and lumbosacral strain with degenerative disc disease.

The Veteran's low back disability is rated at 20 percent, the highest available rating under the schedular criteria. The right knee disability was not service-connected.

The Board has remanded the case due to incomplete development and for consideration of extraschedular TDIU criteria.

The Veteran's claims for service connection and higher evaluations were denied. The appeal is not about service connection at all.

The Veteran's unauthorized medical expenses incurred for back surgery in March 2002 were not covered because the care was not rendered due to a medical emergency, and VA facilities were feasibly available.

The Board found that the Veteran's current back symptoms are not related to his service-connected low back strain, and denied both claims for service connection and an increased rating.

The Veteran's service-connected low back disability is rated at 100 percent, effective from the date of this decision. The Veteran also meets criteria for special monthly compensation based on need for aid and attendance.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for a back disability, claimed as secondary to his service-connected postoperative status of pilonidal cyst and/or PTSD, is being remanded due to the need for additional development. The claim for service connection for PTSD has already been granted.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection of a skin disability and an initial evaluation in excess of 10 percent for degenerative disc disease (DDD) of the thoracic and lumbar spine. The DDD was rated at 10 percent, effective from the day following separation from service.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for a lumbar spine disorder, cervical spine/neck disorder, and bilateral leg disorder. The evidence does not show any chronic disability of these conditions during or within one year after service, nor is there any other link to service.

The Veteran's appeal for higher initial ratings for his service-connected lumbar and cervical spine disabilities has been denied. The Board found that the evidence did not support a schedular disability rating greater than 10 percent for any portion of the appeal period.

The Veteran's arthritis of the lumbar spine, shoulders, hips, knees, ankles, and feet was not manifested in service or within one year postservice. The Board finds no evidence to support a nexus between his service-connected diabetes mellitus and his claimed disabilities.

The Board has determined that the Veteran does not have residuals of a broken toe or lumbosacral spondylosis of L4-L5 without myelopathy (claimed as injury to the low back) due to service. The evidence does not support a finding of current disability related to service.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded for a VA examination to assess the current severity of his service-connected lumbosacral strain and any related neurological disability. The Veteran contends that his lower back condition has worsened, but no recent treatment records have been provided.

The Veteran's claim for initial compensable evaluation for bilateral hearing loss has been granted, with a rating of 10 percent. The claims for reopening service connection for postoperative degenerative disc disease of the lumbar spine and left shoulder disorder have also been granted. Service connection for vertigo is denied. The right hip arthritis claim remains pending as it was not addressed in this decision. The right knee arthritis and right ankle disorders are both rated at 20 percent.