Back / lumbar spine decisions — 2010

The Board has determined that the Veteran's left middle finger injury and low back disability are related to service, granting service connection for both conditions.

The Veteran's claims for higher ratings for his service-connected left ankle fracture, right ankle injury, herniated nucleus pulposus of the lumbar spine, and bilateral hearing loss have been denied. The evidence does not support a rating in excess of the current assigned ratings.

The Board has remanded the case for further examination and consideration due to inadequate analysis in the original decision.

The Veteran withdrew her appeal of the claims for service connection for thoracolumbar spine, right hip and right knee disabilities and a bilateral eye disorder prior to the Board's decision.

The Veteran's current degenerative disc disease is not related to service and the Board finds that it did not manifest during or within one year after service.

The Veteran's appeals for increased evaluations and service connection have been withdrawn by his representative.

The Board denied entitlement to an effective date earlier than March 7, 2005 for PTSD and denied reopening of claims for left leg, hip, and neck disabilities. The Veteran's low back disability was found to be service connected as secondary to his service-connected residuals of a gunshot wound to the left foot.

The Board has determined that new and material evidence has not been presented to reopen the Veteran's claim for service connection for a lumbar spine disability.

The Veteran's claims for service connection and increased evaluation are being remanded due to the need for additional development, including obtaining medical records and scheduling examinations.

The Veteran's diabetes mellitus, Type II is related to his military service and has been granted. The issues of back disorder and PTSD are remanded for further development.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded for additional examinations to determine the current severity of his service-connected cervical and lumbar spine disorders.

The Veteran's appeal has been remanded due to the need for additional VA records and information from providers.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for right hip, left hip, and low back disabilities have been denied as there is no evidence of such conditions during the pendency of her claims.

The Veteran's service-connected degenerative disc disease of the thoracolumbar spine is currently rated at 20 percent, and the Board finds that a higher initial rating in excess of 20 percent is not warranted for any period.

The Board found no evidence of a back injury or disease in service, and the Veteran's current degenerative disc disease is unrelated to his military service. The same was true for his right knee disorder.

The Veteran's service-connected dysthymic disorder with generalized anxiety disorder, traumatic arthritis of the lumbosacral spine, and scar of the left forehead render him unemployable prior to March 24, 2005.

The Board has determined that new and material evidence was not received to reopen the claim for service connection for a back disability. The Veteran's claim remains denied.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings were denied as his service-connected disabilities did not meet the criteria for higher ratings under the applicable rating schedule.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not preclude him from participating in substantially gainful employment.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining updated treatment records and a VA examination to assess her ability to work due to her service-connected low back disability. The issue of entitlement to a total disability rating based on individual unemployability (TDIU) will also be addressed.