Back / lumbar spine decisions — 2007

The Board has granted the veteran's claims for increased ratings and secondary service connection, with a rating of 10 percent for his right tibia and fibula disability. The left knee and low back disabilities are also considered secondary to the right tibia and fibula disability.

The Board of Veterans' Appeals has denied the veteran's claim for service connection for a low back condition, finding no evidence linking his current disability to his active military service.

The Board has decided to remand the case for additional development, including searching for service medical records and providing proper notification letters.

The veteran's claim for an increased rating in excess of 20 percent for his mechanical low back strain with degenerative changes is being remanded due to the need for additional evidence and a VA examination.

The veteran is seeking service connection for degenerative joint disease of the thoracic and lumbar spine. The RO needs to determine precise dates of his periods of Active Duty for Training (ACDUTRA) and review medical records from both active duty and ACDUTRA to decide if the condition was incurred or aggravated during these periods.

The Board has decided to remand the case for additional development due to incomplete medical records and other issues.

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

The Board found no evidence of current bilateral hip disorder, kidney disorder, or back disorder. The right knee disorder was not shown to be related to the service-connected left knee disability.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for increased disability ratings for his service-connected lumbosacral strain and TURP residuals, finding that the evidence did not show marked interference with employment or frequent periods of hospitalization due to these conditions.

The veteran's service connection claims for residuals of fractures to his right tibia, foot, low back, and pubic root are all granted as they were incurred in the line of duty during active military service.

The Board has remanded the case for further development to verify stressors and obtain medical records, including those from private chiropractors. The veteran's claims for service connection will be reconsidered based on the additional evidence.

The Board has remanded the case for further development and readjudication, including providing notice of what evidence would be necessary to substantiate the elements of proof of entitlement to service connection that were found insufficient in the previous denial.

The Board has determined that new and material evidence has been received to reopen the veteran's claim of service connection for a low back disability. The case is also remanded for further examination regarding the nature and likely etiology of any current skin cancer.

The Board has denied the veteran's claims for service connection for chronic low back pain with degenerative joint disease, bilateral shoulder disability, right knee disability, right leg disability, and skin disorder due to a lack of evidence linking these conditions to his military service.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for higher initial ratings for his lumbosacral strain, nonunion fracture of the right scaphoid, patellofemoral syndrome of both knees, and psoriasis. The RO found that these conditions did not warrant a rating in excess of 10 percent.

The veteran's claims for increased ratings for his lumbar spine and right knee disabilities are being remanded to allow for further development, including a VA examination.

The Board has remanded the case due to incomplete records and the need for a new VA examination of the veteran's low back disability.

The Board has remanded the veteran's claims due to incomplete service medical records and for an appropriate examination regarding lumbar fracture, L1-3, and degenerative arthritis.

The Board found that the veteran's claimed conditions did not have their onset during service and are not related to his military service. The claims for service connection were denied.

The Board has granted service connection for arthritis of the lumbar spine and degenerative joint disease at multiple levels, finding a nexus to military service. The left knee disability is rated as non-compensably disabling (zero percent), with no evidence of recurrent subluxation or lateral instability.