Back / lumbar spine Board decisions

The Board has granted service connection for the lumbar spine disability and assigned an initial evaluation of 10 percent. The appellant is seeking a higher rating, but the current evidence does not support a higher evaluation based on orthopedic manifestations alone.

The Veteran's appeal was denied for an extension of a temporary total disability rating for convalescence beyond August 31, 2006 following low back surgery in March 2006. The Veteran's service-connected degenerative disc disease of the lumbar spine did not meet the criteria for extended convalescence benefits.

The Veteran's claimed bilateral leg disorder is not currently shown, and the Board finds that it was not incurred in or aggravated by active service.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims due to missing service treatment records and a need for further examination.

The Board finds that the Veteran's current lumbar and cervical spine conditions are likely due to strain-type injuries sustained during service, and grants service connection for these disabilities.

The Board found that the Veteran's current low back disorder was not incurred in or aggravated by his military service, and thus denied his claim for service connection.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for a low back disorder, finding that it is not related to his active service or service-connected disability. The issue of entitlement to an initial compensable rating for SFW, right hip and buttock, was not addressed in this decision.

The Veteran's service-connected spine disability has been manifested by degenerative joint disease and chronic lumbosacral strain, but does not meet the criteria for a higher initial rating.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's chronic low back strain and right thigh muscle disability are related to his military service, granting these claims.

The Veteran's claim for a rating in excess of 40 percent for his herniated nucleus pulposus at L5-S1 was denied. The Board found that the Veteran did not meet the criteria for an increased rating based on either limitation of motion or intervertebral disc syndrome.

The VA has determined that the appellant's current low back, left knee, and right knee disorders are not service-connected as they are more likely due to natural aging processes rather than injuries sustained during periods of active duty for training (ACDUTRA).

The Veteran has withdrawn his appeal regarding the issue of a separate rating for the neurologic manifestations of a service-connected lower thoracic and lumbar spine disability, prior to and after August 6, 2005.

The Board has determined that a new VA examination is needed to determine the nature and etiology of the Veteran's low back disability, as the previous opinion was inadequate.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's low back disability is incurred during active service and grants service connection for this condition.

The Veteran's claim for increased ratings for his service-connected diffuse spondylosis of the thoracolumbar spine was denied. The initial noncompensable rating assigned prior to October 12, 2004 has been upheld. Ratings in excess of 10 percent from October 12, 2004 to July 16, 2009 and in excess of 20 percent from July 16, 2009 onward were denied.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for low back and neck conditions due to a lack of evidence linking current disabilities to service.

The Veteran's cervical spine disability is rated at 30 percent effective October 24, 2008.,The Veteran's thoracolumbar spine disability is rated at 40 percent effective October 24, 2008.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection due to insufficient review of his medical records and incomplete opinions regarding the etiology of his cervical spine, lumbar spine, and psychiatric disorders.

The Veteran's initial 10 percent rating for degenerative disc disease at L5-S1 with right hip pain is denied as the evidence does not show that his disability results in forward flexion of the thoracolumbar spine greater than 30 degrees but not greater than 60 degrees; a combined range of motion of the thoracolumbar spine not greater than 120 degrees; muscle spasm or guarding severe enough to result in an abnormal gait or abnormal spinal contour such as scoliosis, reversed lordosis, or abnormal kyphosis; or intervertebral disc syndrome.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for various orthopedic conditions were denied. The initial rating decisions assigned non-compensable evaluations, and later adjustments did not result in a compensable evaluation.