Back / lumbar spine Board decisions

The Board has determined that service connection is warranted for degenerative joint disease of the lumbar spine, as it was initially diagnosed within one year post-service and there is no clear and unmistakable evidence to rebut this presumption.

The Board has reopened the previously denied claims of service connection for a low back disability and right hand injury, but remanded these issues due to new evidence submitted by the Veteran. The claim for skin cancer was withdrawn prior to decision.

The Veteran's DDD of the lumbar spine was not found to warrant a compensable evaluation prior to April 10, 2009 and is denied for any evaluation in excess of 10 percent since that date.

The Veteran's lumbar spine disability, postoperative scars on the back, facial scars, and GERD with hiatal hernia have all been rated at their maximum allowable under VA regulations. The Board finds that none of these conditions warrant a higher rating.

The Veteran's hypertension claim has been reopened, but the Board is remanding her cervical spine and lumbar spine disability ratings as well as her headache disability rating for additional development. The case will be further reviewed after these issues are addressed.

The Veteran's claims for increased rating and service connection for lumbar spine disability, left leg disability, and right leg disability are being remanded due to the need for additional examinations and records.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings and service connection were denied. The denial of the Hepatitis C claim was final, as no new and material evidence had been presented since its previous denial in September 2006.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's back disability is not related to his active service and denied his claim for service connection.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings and service connection were denied. The RO granted service connection for radiculopathy of the right lower extremity associated with his lumbar spine disability, but did not grant a higher rating.

The Veteran's death was not determined to be service-connected, and the claim for DIC benefits under 38 U.S.C.A. § 1318 is denied due to lack of legal merit.

The Board found that the Veteran's lumbar spine disorder was not incurred or aggravated during service, and it could not be presumed to have been incurred due to a lack of evidence showing arthritis within one year post-service. The Board also determined that the disability did not meet the criteria for secondary service connection as it was not caused by or aggravated by his service-connected cervical spine and bilateral shoulder disorders.

The Veteran's initial compensable rating for degenerative disc disease of the lumbar spine was granted from April 12, 2006, to June 17, 2008. From April 12, 2006, to June 18, 2008, he is entitled to a rating of 10 percent for his degenerative disc disease of the lumbar spine.

The Board has remanded the case for a supplemental VA examination to determine the current severity of the Veteran's degenerative disc disease with arthritis of the lumbosacral spine, and for consideration of an extraschedular evaluation under 38 C.F.R. § 3.321(b)(1).

The Veteran's claims for service connection for right foot disabilities, including a lumbosacral strain, were denied as there was no evidence of their onset or aggravation during active duty service. The Veteran is currently rated at the highest available schedular rating for his left great toe disability.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded to obtain additional VA treatment records and for further development.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for a low back disability on both direct and secondary bases, as well as his claim for TDIU. The decision found that new and material evidence had not been submitted to reopen the direct service connection claim, and that there was no nexus between the Veteran's service-connected right leg disabilities and his current low back disorder.

The Veteran's low back disorder was evaluated as 20 percent disabling from March 5, 2005 onwards. The evaluation is based on the General Rating Formula for Diseases and Injuries of the Spine.

The Board found that the Veteran's degenerative disc disease of the lumbar spine is not related to her military service, including her in-service epidural injections. The claim was denied.

The Board found no evidence of a chronic neck disability during service and concluded that the Veteran's current cervical spine disabilities, including degenerative disc disease and myofascial pain, are not related to his military service.

The Veteran does not have a diagnosed disability of the back, hips, ankles, right knee, or feet that is related to his military service. The Board finds that the evidence does not support granting service connection for any of these disabilities.