Back / lumbar spine decisions — 2009

The Veteran's claim for TDIU is being remanded due to the need for a new VA examination and consideration of whether an extraschedular rating may be assigned.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for a back disorder and a right hip disorder, finding that there is no current disability and insufficient evidence to establish a link between any diagnosed conditions and service.

The VA determined that the Veteran's current back condition is not related to his military service and denied his claim for service connection.

The Board found no evidence of a low back disability during service or within the applicable presumptive period, and there is insufficient medical nexus evidence to establish a connection between any current low back disability and military service.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including an orthopedic examination to determine the etiology of his claimed low back disorder, left shoulder impingement syndrome, left knee disorder, and right leg cellulitis.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for further development, including VA examinations to determine the nature and etiology of any current back disability and left shoulder disability.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for residuals of a herniated nucleus pulposus and left lumbar radiculopathy were denied. The VA examiner found that the Veteran's symptoms did not meet criteria for higher ratings based on incapacitating episodes or ankylosis.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for PTSD, residuals of a back injury, and bilateral hearing loss. The Board found that there was no evidence linking current disabilities to service.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's low back disorder preexisted military service and was not aggravated by military service, thus denying service connection.

The Veteran's claims for joint problems and a lower back disorder were denied as they are not service-connected. The RO also denied reopening of his claim for right knee disability, which the Veteran indicated he disagreed with at his hearing.

The Veteran's fracture of the transverse processes of the left lumbar vertebra is currently rated at 10 percent, and his disability does not meet or approximate criteria for a higher rating.

The Board has determined that additional development is necessary in this case, including obtaining service treatment records and scheduling the Veteran for VA examinations to determine the existence of current low back, bilateral knee, and septoplasty disabilities, as well as their etiology. The claim will be returned to the Board after compliance with requisite appellate procedures.

The Board found that the Veteran's current low back disability is not related to his in-service injury and denied service connection for this condition.

The Board has remanded the case due to the need for additional development, including obtaining medical records and providing a VA examination.

The Veteran's cervical spine disability, characterized as post-operative residuals of a cervical discectomy and fusion, to include a scar, cervical degenerative disc disease, and intervertebral disc syndrome, is currently evaluated at 10 percent. The evidence does not support an increase in the rating.

The Veteran's service-connected low back disability is currently evaluated as 10 percent disabling, but the Board found that it does not meet the criteria for a higher rating.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development and consideration of his claim for a higher rating for degenerative joint and disc disease of the lumbar spine.

The Veteran is entitled to the services outlined in his Individual Independent Living Plan (IILP) for the period from July 27, 2005 to August 1, 2006.

The Board has denied all service connection claims for various musculoskeletal and eye conditions, finding that the evidence does not support a nexus to service.

The Board has determined that the evidence received since the March 1996 rating decision does not constitute new and material evidence to reopen the appellant's claim for service connection for a low back disorder.