Back / lumbar spine Board decisions

The Board found that the Veteran's service-connected lumbosacral strain with limitation of motion does not meet or approximate the criteria for a rating in excess of 20 percent.

The Board found no evidence of a chronic low back disability in service and denied the claim as the Veteran's current low back disability is not related to his active duty.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for a right shoulder disability and degenerative disease, lumbar and lower thoracic spine due to lack of current disabilities and no etiological relationship.

The Veteran withdrew his claim of entitlement to service connection for a cervical spine disability prior to the Board's decision. The low back pain issue remains under consideration.

The Veteran's service-connected degenerative disc disease of the lumbar spine is currently rated at 20 percent, effective November 10, 2003. The evidence does not support a higher rating during this period.

The Board finds that the Veteran's degenerative disc disease of the lumbar spine was incurred in service and grants service connection for this condition.

The Board has remanded the case due to new evidence received from Social Security Administration (SSA) and the need to obtain relevant medical records.

After reviewing all evidence, including VA examinations and private medical opinions, the Board finds no clear and unmistakable evidence to rebut the presumption of soundness at service entrance. The Veteran's reported knee, low back, and hip disorders are not shown to be related to his military service or a service-connected condition.

The Board has reopened the Veteran's claim for service connection for a back disorder and remanded it to the RO for further development. The Veteran must provide information about any medical providers who have treated him for his back disorder since service.

The Veteran's low back disability is found to be related to his active service, and he is granted service connection for this condition. His bilateral knee and ankle disabilities are not found to be related to his active service.

The Veteran's sleep disturbance is not considered due to undiagnosed illness or other qualifying chronic disability, and the primary causes are attributed to depression and low back disability. The claim for service connection is denied.

The Board has determined that new and material evidence has been submitted to reopen the Veteran's claim for service connection for a back disability involving the cervical and lumbosacral spine. However, the evidence does not support a finding of service connection due to lack of a link between the current disability and military service.

The Board found that the Veteran's current low back disability did not originate in service and denied his claim for service connection.

The Veteran is not entitled to an effective date prior to January 14, 2004 for a 20 percent disability rating for his low back strain.

The Board found that the appellant does not have a current low back disability incurred in or aggravated by service, and arthritis of the lumbar spine may not be presumed to have been incurred or aggravated therein.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for low back, bilateral hips, bilateral knees, legs, and ankles as there is no competent medical evidence showing a nexus between these conditions and active service.

The Veteran's degenerative disc disease at L4-5, L5-S1 is not manifested by forward flexion of the thoracolumbar spine 30 degrees or less, any favorable ankylosis of the entire thoracolumbar spine, or intervertebral disc syndrome having a total duration of at least 4 weeks but less than 6 weeks during the past 12 months. Therefore, his claim for a rating in excess of 20 percent is denied.

The Veteran's PTSD, lumbar spine disability, and nerve damage to the right leg are all rated based on their direct service connection. The initial ratings for PTSD (70%) and lumbar spine disability (20%) have been granted.

The Veteran's claim for an increased rating for his service-connected degenerative disc disease of the lumbosacral spine with a history of myositis and associated sciatica was granted, with a final effective date of December 6, 2006. The Veteran is now rated at 40 percent for his low back disability.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded due to the need for additional VA treatment records and consideration of a claim for total disability based on individual unemployability (TDIU).