Back / lumbar spine decisions — 2006

The Board has remanded the case for additional development due to new evidence submitted by the veteran and his representative.

The Board has denied the veteran's claims for service connection for a neurological condition of his left toes and residuals of a low back injury, finding that there is no evidence to support these claims.

The Board has remanded the case for further development and consideration of the veteran's claim for an increased rating for low back strain with degenerative disc disease.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for post-traumatic stress disorder, bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, a right knee disability, and a back disability. The evidence did not support these claims.

The veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining VA treatment records and providing corrective VCAA notice.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for higher ratings for low back strain, left knee strain, and right knee strain. The veteran's service-connected conditions were found to not warrant a compensable rating under the applicable VA rating criteria.

The Board denied service connection for a back disability and granted service connection for varicose veins of the left leg with a 10% evaluation. The issue of evaluating the varicose veins remains pending.

The veteran's service-connected bilateral pes planus, lumbosacral strain, and hiatal hernia are being remanded for further development to determine the current severity of each condition.

The Board has determined that there are procedural deficiencies and the veteran's claims for service connection, increased ratings, and other issues need to be remanded for further action.

The veteran is seeking increased disability ratings for his service-connected cervical spine and lumbar spine disabilities. The appeal has been remanded due to the need for additional development, including obtaining treatment records from the VA Medical Center in Washington, D.C.

The Board finds no evidence of a nexus between the veteran's current diagnoses and his period of active service, resulting in denial of all claims.

The Board denied an initial rating higher than 20 percent for the veteran's service-connected lumbar spine disability, finding that the evidence did not meet the criteria for a higher rating based on functional limitation or additional neurological impairment.

The Board found that the veteran's low back disorder, including spinal stenosis, is proximately due to or aggravated by his service-connected residuals of a left lower leg puncture wound.

The veteran's low back disorder is currently rated at 20 percent, and the Board finds that it does not meet the criteria for a higher rating based on the evidence of record.

The Board has remanded the case due to inadequate VA examination and further development is required before service connection for a back disorder can be decided.

The Board has determined that the veteran's lumbar paravertebral myositis did not warrant a rating higher than 10 percent for the period prior to May 5, 2005.

The Board has determined that the veteran's back disability was aggravated by his service, and thus grants service connection for this condition.

The Board found that the veteran does not have a current back disability and denied his claim for service connection.

The VA determined that the veteran's disc disease of the lumbosacral spine did not warrant a rating in excess of 40 percent, as his symptoms and range of motion were within the criteria for a 40 percent rating under the old rating criteria. The Board found no evidence to support a higher rating based on the current or previous diagnostic codes.

The Board has found that the veteran's claim for TDIU cannot be decided based on the current evidence and remanded to obtain additional information regarding his service-connected disabilities and their impact on his employability.