Back / lumbar spine decisions — 2010

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including obtaining VA treatment records and SSA disability benefits records. The Veteran's claim of service connection for a lumbar spine disability will be reconsidered with consideration of all relevant rating criteria.

The Veteran's lumbar spine disability has not been found to meet or approximate the criteria for a higher rating under any applicable diagnostic code.

The Veteran's low back disability is rated at 40 percent, and his PTSD is rated at 70 percent. The Board has granted the Veteran a TDIU based on his service-connected disabilities.

The Veteran's spondylosis, L5-S1, with lumbosacral strain and left lower extremity radiculopathy is not rated higher than 20 percent due to lack of forward flexion of the thoracolumbar spine at 30 degrees or less.

The Board found that the Veteran's lumbosacral strain is not related to his service or a service-connected condition, and denied the claim.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's low back and right hip conditions are related to his military service, granting the claims for service connection.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining VA treatment records and Social Security Administration (SSA) records. A VA examination will be scheduled to assess the severity of his lumbar spine and right hip disabilities, as well as determine if he has left ear hearing loss related to service.

The Veteran's lumbosacral strain is currently rated at 10 percent, but the evidence does not meet the criteria for a higher rating under the applicable VA rating criteria.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded for additional development, including a VA examination of his lumbar spine disability and consideration of his claims for service connection and TDIU.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for degenerative disc disease and degenerative joint disease of the lumbosacral spine, finding that there was no evidence linking his current condition to active service. The cervical spine issue was withdrawn by the appellant.

The Board found that the Veteran's degenerative disc disease with associated spondylosis was not related to his military service or to a service-connected disability, and thus denied the claim for service connection.

The Board found that there is no evidence to support a service connection for the Veteran's disability of the lumbar spine, as it was not shown to have been present during service and is not related to any event or injury in service. The claim is therefore denied.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient evidence regarding the relationship between the Veteran's low back disability and his military service. The claim is being returned for further development.

The Board found no evidence linking the Veteran's low back disability or bleeding ulcers to his military service, and thus denied both claims.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims due to incomplete development and need for further examination.

The Board found no evidence of a current low back disorder that is related to service, and thus denied the Veteran's claim for service connection.

The Board found that the Veteran does not have multilevel cervical degenerative disc/joint disease that is related to his service-connected lumbosacral spine disability and denied the claim for service connection.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development to determine if the Veteran's service-connected right knee disability caused or aggravated his back and left hip disabilities.

The Board has determined that the submitted evidence is not new and material, thus denying the Veteran's request to reopen his claim for service connection of a back disability.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient evidence regarding the cause of death and the relationship between service-connected conditions and the Veteran's death. The appellant must be provided with proper notice tailored to her claim for VA dependency and indemnity compensation, including a listing of previously service-connected disorders and the evidentiary requirements for service connection based on a condition not yet service connected.