Back / lumbar spine decisions — 2009

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including obtaining VA treatment records and Social Security Administration disability claim records. A supplemental medical opinion is needed to determine if the Veteran's pes planus was aggravated during service.

The Veteran's claim for an increased rating for his service-connected lumbosacral strain with degenerative disc disease was denied. The evidence showed that the Veteran experienced chronic low back pain, but did not meet criteria for a higher rating due to lack of incapacitating episodes requiring bed rest and treatment by a physician.

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

The Board denied service connection for all claimed conditions, finding no current disability and insufficient evidence to link any of the disabilities to service.

The Board finds that the Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, back disability, and PTSD are denied as there is not sufficient evidence to establish a link between these conditions and his military service.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for various conditions, including a left tibia disorder and related secondary disorders such as right knee, left knee, right hip, left hip, back, and hemorrhoids, were denied. The Board found no current diagnoses of these conditions.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded due to the need for additional VA examination and records review.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for higher initial disability ratings for his service-connected ankylosing spondylitis of the cervical spine and thoracolumbar spine, effective from June 22, 2001.

The Board denied the claims for service connection for residuals of a left ankle injury, including the foot, hip, and leg; low back disability; and PTSD. The appellant's complaints were not related to his in-service twisted ankle.

The Board granted a 40 percent rating for the Veteran's low back disability and denied his claim for TDIU.

The Board has granted service connection for mechanical back syndrome as secondary to the Veteran's service-connected right ankle disability.

The Board found no evidence of a low back disorder during service or within one year after separation, and the Veteran's current condition is not related to his service-connected left knee disability. The claim for service connection was denied.

The Veteran's claims for increased disability rating and service connection were denied. The Board found that the Veteran's lumbar spine strain was properly rated at 10 percent, but not higher. Claims for right arm, shoulder, and head/neck disabilities were also denied as secondary to his service-connected lumbar spine strain.

The Board denied service connection for lumbosacral spine and left shoulder disabilities, finding no evidence of such conditions during active service or related to service.

The Board has remanded the case for further development due to new claims raised by the Veteran and inextricably intertwined with the current appeal.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient examination and opinion regarding the relationship between the Veteran's current low back disability and his service-connected right knee disability.

The Board finds that the Veteran's claims for service connection for a left hip disorder, heart disorder, lower back disorder, and upper back disorder with neck pain are not established as these conditions were either not present in-service or have no link to military service.

The Veteran's representative has indicated that the severity of his lumbar strain may have increased since the last VA examination over 4 years ago. The case is being remanded to allow for an updated VA examination and a merits analysis.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings and service connection were denied. The lower lumbar strain with degenerative disc disease is currently rated at 20 percent, while the right subclavian vein thrombosis is rated at 10 percent.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining SSA records and employment information. The VA will also schedule the Veteran for a VA examination to determine if his service-connected disabilities render him unable to secure or follow substantially gainful employment.