Back / lumbar spine Board decisions

The Board finds that the Veteran's degenerative disc disease of the lumbar spine and residuals of bilateral frozen feet are related to his service-connected left tibia fracture with knee and ankle disability, granting service connection for these conditions.

The Board has determined that further development is needed to determine the Veteran's service connection claims for PTSD and lumbosacral strain, including obtaining additional medical records and conducting VA examinations.

The Veteran's intervertebral disc syndrome of the lumbar spine is currently rated at 40 percent, and his neurologic manifestations are considered mild. The appeal for increased rating and service connection has been denied.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded due to the need for a new VA examination to assess the current severity of her service-connected low back disability.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for higher initial evaluations for his service-connected low back strain, left ankle strain, right ankle strain, residuals of myocardial infarction, and adjustment disorder with mixed emotional features. The current ratings are found to be appropriate based on the evidence provided.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's current spine disabilities are not related to service and have denied his claims.

The Board has reopened the claim for service connection for a low back disability, but further development is needed as the duty to assist has not been satisfied.

The Veteran's chronic lumbosacral strain has been manifested by combined range of motion of the lumbar spine greater than 120 degrees, forward flexion to 70 degrees with pain beginning at 40 degrees. The Board finds that his disability meets the criteria for a 20 percent rating under the general rating formula based on limitation of motion.

The Board denied service connection for low back disability and an initial compensable rating for herpes simplex types 1 and 2 due to insufficient evidence of a current disability.

The Board found no evidence of a chronic condition manifested by difficulty breathing or any current back disability, and thus denied the Veteran's service connection claims.

The Board found that the reduction of a 40 percent disability rating for lumbar spondylosis to a 10 percent rating, effective January 1, 2008, was proper based on clinical findings.

The Board has granted service connection for a low back disorder and assigned a 100% evaluation, effective from the date of the decision. The issue regarding an increased evaluation for left shoulder impingement syndrome is remanded.

The Board has remanded the case due to incomplete service records and issues related to basic eligibility for VA compensation benefits. The issue of service connection for a back disorder will be considered after resolving these matters.

The Veteran's claim for an extension of his delimiting date for education assistance benefits was denied as there is no medical evidence showing that the back condition prevented him from enrolling or continuing in college courses.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including obtaining medical records and determining if further efforts to obtain a VA spina bifida folder are futile.

The Veteran's service-connected low back disorder does not preclude him from maintaining all types of gainful employment.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for headaches, neck pain (claimed as arthritis of the cervical spine and rheumatoid arthritis), mid-back pain and HLA-B27 (also claimed as arthritis of the thoracic spine and rheumatoid arthritis), and ankylosing spondylitis (also claimed as arthritis of the lumbar spine) due to lack of new and material evidence.

The Board has granted the Veteran's claims for service connection for nasal deviation, dry eyes, a neck disability, and a low back disability. The evidence is in relative equipoise as to whether these conditions are related to service.

The Veteran's low back disorder was found to be productive of pronounced intervertebral disk syndrome, warranting a rating in excess of 40 percent. The Veteran also met the criteria for TDIU as her combined disability rating exceeded 60 percent.

The Board found no evidence of a chronic low back disability in service and concluded that the Veteran's current low back disorder is not related to his military service.