Back / lumbar spine decisions — 2007

The Board has determined that additional development is needed to properly assess the veteran's right knee and low back disorders, including obtaining medical records and scheduling a VA examination.

The veteran's claim for a higher disability rating for his lumbar spine disorder was denied, but he received a compensable initial rating for radiculopathy of the right lower extremity prior to June 13, 2005. His claim for an increased rating after that date remains pending.

The Board found that the veteran's lumbar spondylosis with spinal stenosis status post L2-L5 laminectomy does not meet or approximate the criteria for a higher rating, and thus denied his claim for an increased rating.

The Board has determined that the veteran does not have arthritis of the low back or shoulders that is related to his military service and therefore denied both claims.

The veteran's appeal involves multiple issues including increased ratings for knee disabilities and effective dates, as well as a TDIU claim. The case is being remanded to the RO for additional development of evidence.

The veteran's claims for increased evaluations of his right and left ankle disorders, as well as his left leg radiculopathy and lumbar strain were granted. The effective date is not specified.

The Board found that the evidence did not show severe low back disorder with specific criteria met, and therefore denied a rating in excess of 20 percent for the veteran's low back disorder.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including an examination to determine if any current back disability is related to service or pre-existing conditions.

The Board has determined that the veteran did not submit new and material evidence to reopen his claim for service connection for scoliosis of the dorsolumbar spine, to include lumbosacral strain. The RO's March 1986 decision is final.

The Board has granted service connection for degenerative disc disease of the cervical spine and a 50 percent rating for PTSD. The effective date will be determined in accordance with VA rules.

The veteran's initial claim for an increased rating for migraine headaches was denied as her symptoms did not meet the criteria for a higher evaluation.,Service connection for a low back disability was also denied, with no current evidence of such a condition.

The Board denied the veteran's claim for an increased evaluation for his service-connected recurrent lumbar strain and also denied his attempt to reopen his claim for prostate cancer, which he claimed was due to Agent Orange exposure.

The veteran's appeal for service connection for osteoarthritis of the lumbar spine as secondary to his service-connected left knee disability has been dismissed due to his request for withdrawal.

The Board has remanded the case for further development due to missing Social Security Administration records.

The Board has denied the veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral defective hearing and chronic tinnitus, finding no evidence of these conditions during or within one year after his military service. The claim for a low back disorder is remanded due to insufficient medical opinion regarding its etiology.

The Board has reopened the veteran's claims for service connection for low back and right hip disabilities. However, these claims are being remanded to obtain additional medical opinions regarding the nature of the current disabilities and their relationship to service.

The Board has remanded the case due to incomplete records and need for further examination.

The veteran's claim for an increased rating for his lumbosacral strain was denied because he failed to appear for a scheduled VA examination.

The Court has remanded the case to the Board for the assignment of a disability rating and effective date for the veteran's low back disability.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for a lower back disability and left foot disorder on a secondary basis, finding that new and material evidence had not been submitted to reopen these claims.