Back / lumbar spine decisions — 2010

The Veteran's claims for service connection for right shoulder and lumbar spine disabilities are being remanded due to the need for additional development, including obtaining medical records from VA facilities.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for his service-connected left and right knee disabilities, as well as his lumbar spine disability, are being remanded due to the need for additional medical examinations.

The Veteran's appeal has been withdrawn, and the case is dismissed.

The Board has granted service connection for the Veteran's coronary artery disease (CAD), finding that it is related to symptoms reported in service. The claim for a chronic disability of the lumbar spine remains pending and will be remanded.

The Board found that the April 1981 rating decision denying service connection for a back condition was not clearly and unmistakably erroneous. The Court set aside this finding, remanding the case to the Board.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's low back and bilateral knee disabilities are not related to service, and thus denied his claims for service connection.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims to reopen his service connection for degenerative disc disease of the lumbar spine, major depression, memory loss due to an undiagnosed illness, and skin rash due to an undiagnosed illness. The evidence received since the September 2004 decision does not raise a reasonable possibility of substantiating these claims.

The Veteran's appeal for a higher rating for his low back disability was denied. The issues of service connection for neurologic manifestations secondary to the low back disability and upper back disability were also addressed, with the latter being withdrawn by the Veteran.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not render her unable to secure and follow substantially gainful employment.

The Board has granted service connection for degenerative disc disease (DDD) of the lumbar spine.

The Veteran's appeals for increased disability ratings and TDIU have been dismissed due to his withdrawal of the appeals.

The Veteran's lumbosacral strain with spondylosis and bilateral knee disorders are rated at the maximum allowed under VA guidelines. The Veteran is also granted a TDIU based on his service-connected disabilities.

The Board is remanding the case to obtain additional medical records and schedule a VA examination. The Veteran's claim for service connection for a low back disability will be considered on its merits, with new evidence potentially reopening the claim.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including a new examination to assess the severity of his low back disability and any associated bladder or neurological symptoms. The TDIU claim is also being remanded due to its inextricability with the rating issue.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining VA treatment records and scheduling the Veteran for a VA examination to assess his current knee disabilities.

The Board has determined that the Veteran currently suffers from a low back condition which had its onset in service, and thus service connection is granted for this condition. The issue of high blood pressure remains pending as it was not addressed by the RO.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for a back disability has been reopened and granted. The Board found new and material evidence to support the reopening of his claim, but did not provide an opinion on whether he is entitled to service connection for bilateral knee or hip disabilities as secondary to his back disability.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss, bilateral tinnitus, a chronic disorder manifested by low back pain, and hypertension. The evidence does not support a finding that any of these conditions are related to service.

The Board found no evidence of a current left hip disorder and concluded that the appellant's low back disorder with lower extremity radiculopathy is not related to her service. The claim for these conditions was therefore denied.

The Board has determined that additional development is needed to properly adjudicate the Veteran's claims of service connection for back and neck conditions.