Back / lumbar spine Board decisions

The Board found that the veteran's current back disability did not develop during service and is not related to any in-service injury or disease. As a result, the claim for service connection was denied.

The Board found that the veteran's low back disorder, including degenerative arthritis of the lumbar spine and chronic low back pain, is not proximately due to or a consequence of his service-connected left leg disability.

The veteran's claim for service connection for a low back injury is being remanded due to incomplete medical records and the need for further examination.

The Board has remanded the case due to deficiencies in VCAA notice and for additional development of the claims.

The Board has granted the veteran's claim for service connection of a low back disorder as secondary to his service-connected right hip disorder.

The Board has found new and material evidence to reopen the veteran's claim for service connection of a low back disability. The claim is granted.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for residuals of brain stem poisoning and related low back disorder, finding no evidence to support these conditions in service or due to herbicide exposure.

The Board has granted service connection for arthritis of the lumbar spine. The veteran's right lower extremity disability and cervical spine disability are also found to be related to service, but further development is needed as there is ambiguity regarding their specific nature.

The Board denied the veteran's claims of entitlement to a rating in excess of 20 percent for his left ankle disability and service connection for bilateral hip, low back, and right leg disabilities. The Board found that there was no evidence of ankylosis or other functional impairment warranting a higher rating than 20 percent. For the service connection claims, the Board determined that the veteran's current hip, low back, and right leg disabilities were not proximately due to his left ankle disability.

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

The veteran's right elbow disorder is rated at 10 percent, and he has a combined evaluation of 80 percent from his service-connected disabilities. The Board finds that the evidence does not support an increased rating for the right elbow disorder. However, the veteran's multiple service-connected conditions collectively preclude him from obtaining and retaining substantially gainful employment, warranting a TDIU.

The Board has determined that new and material evidence has been submitted to reopen the veteran's claim for service connection for a back disorder, which is now diagnosed as degenerative joint and disc disease of the dorso-lumbar spine. The Board finds that the veteran incurred this disability during his military service.

The veteran's claims for service connection for PTSD and low back strain are being remanded to the RO for additional development.

The Board has reopened the veteran's claim for service connection for a low back disorder due to new and material evidence submitted since the May 1990 decision. The claim will now be reviewed on its merits.

The Board has denied the veteran's claims for increased evaluations for service-connected left shoulder strain, right great toe strain, and patellofemoral pain syndrome of the left knee. The issues of disability evaluations for cervical and lumbosacral strain and service connection for chest pain are remanded to the RO.

The veteran's low back disability, characterized by severe degenerative disc disease at L5-S1 and severe degenerative facet disease at the lower two vertebrae, has been rated as 40 percent disabling. The Board found that a higher rating of 60 percent is warranted based on the severity of his symptoms.

The Board has determined that the veteran's low back and right ankle disabilities are service-connected, while his nose fracture is not. The right ankle weakness is found to be related to the lumbar spine disability.

The veteran's increased evaluations for degenerative disc disease of the lumbar spine, tardy ulnar nerve syndrome with camptodactyly of the left and right upper extremities were denied. The Board found no basis to grant a higher rating under the applicable diagnostic codes.

The VA determined that the veteran's service-connected low back disorder does not warrant a rating in excess of 10 percent.

The Board has determined that the veteran does not have a current disability related to his service, except for left knee osteophyte and chondromalacia which is presumed due to trauma from active duty service. The other conditions are either not shown to be related to service or were not found by the RO in their initial decision.