Back / lumbar spine Board decisions

The Board denied the veteran's claims for initial increased ratings for degenerative joint disease of his right and left knees, finding that the evidence did not support a higher disability rating. The claim for service connection for degenerative disc disease of the thoracic spine was also denied.

The veteran's claim for a total disability rating based on individual unemployability due to service-connected disabilities is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining medical opinions regarding his employability and conducting VA examinations.

The Board has granted service connection for an anxiety disorder with depression as secondary to the veteran's service-connected systemic lupus erythematosus. The claim for a low back disability is also granted, and a 60% evaluation is assigned.

The Board has granted a 20 percent disability rating for the veteran's lumbosacral strain, effective from the date of the decision.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for a disability rating in excess of 10 percent for his thoracic spine disorder, service connection for degenerative disc disease of the lumbar and cervical spine as secondary to his service-connected thoracic spine disorder, and TDIU due to his service-connected thoracic spine disorder.

The Board granted an increased rating to 20 percent for the service-connected chronic low back strain and denied a compensable rating for the residuals of the right knee injury.

The Board has granted an initial rating of 20 percent for the veteran's cervical spine disability, effective October 1992. The disability is rated as degenerative disc disease with numbness of the right upper extremity.

The Board has determined that the veteran's degenerative disease of the lumbosacral spine is etiologically related to service and/or service-connected lumbar strain, warranting service connection.

The Board found that the veteran's current low back disability is not related to his service, and thus denied his claim for service connection.

The veteran's degenerative disc disease and spinal stenosis are granted as secondary to his service-connected bilateral pes planus. The right foot injury is not considered incurred or aggravated in peacetime service, and there is no evidence of a psychiatric disorder including post-traumatic stress disorder.

The Board has determined that the veteran's tremors, bilateral knee and ankle disabilities, and lumbar spine degenerative joint disease are all service-connected. The evidence supports these findings.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for an increased rating for his lumbar spine disability and for service connection for a shoulder disability. The effective date of the TDIU was also denied as a matter of law.

The veteran is seeking service connection for low back and right knee disorders, but the case has been remanded due to incomplete records and need for further examination.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including obtaining VA and private treatment records and scheduling a VA examination.

The Board denied the veteran's claims of entitlement to an increased disability rating for his service-connected low back strain and denied his claim for service connection for PTSD. The Board found that there was no current diagnosis of PTSD in the record.

The veteran's appeal is remanded due to the need for a more contemporary examination and consideration of relevant changes to VA's Rating Schedule. The case will be returned to the Board for further appellate review.

The Board has reopened the veteran's claim for service connection due to new and material evidence submitted since the November 1997 rating decision. The current low back disability, arthritis, is not related to the inservice injury.

The Board found that the appellant's current chronic back condition is not related to his military service and denied his claim. The bilateral knee condition was also not linked to his service, as no medical evidence linking it to his active duty was provided.

The Board found that the veteran's chronic dorsal-lumbar strain is no more than 20 percent disabling, warranting a 20% evaluation under Diagnostic Code 5292.

The Board has remanded the case due to incomplete records and instructed the RO to obtain Air Force and Social Security Administration records. The claim will be reconsidered based on these additional records.