Back / lumbar spine decisions — 2010

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded due to incomplete records and the need for further medical examinations. The issues of service connection for low back disorder, bilateral hearing loss, and Hodgkin's lymphoma are pending.

The Board has remanded the case to the RO due to new evidence and for a VA examination.

The Veteran's claims for increased disability rating for thoracic scoliosis and service connection for low back disability are being remanded due to the need for additional development, including new VA examinations.

The Veteran's bilateral bunions were first manifested during active duty service and are granted service connection. The low back disability, osteoporosis, and left knee disability claims are remanded for further development.

The Veteran seeks an increased rating for his service-connected lumbosacral strain with lumbar disc disease, currently evaluated as 20 percent disabling prior to March 18, 2005 and 40 percent thereafter. The case is REMANDED due to the need for a new VA examination and updated VAMC treatment records.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for chronic lumbar strain and a separate evaluation for arthritis of the right knee were granted. However, his claim for an increased rating in excess of 10 percent for postoperative residuals of a right knee meniscectomy was denied.

The Veteran's appeal for an earlier effective date for the grant of service connection for degenerative joint disease of the lumbosacral spine has been withdrawn. The TDIU issue is being remanded to the Director of Compensation and Pension Service.

The Veteran's disabilities, while numerous and severe, do not render an average person unable to follow substantially gainful employment. The Board finds that the Veteran is not permanently and totally disabled as a result of any disability.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development to determine if his back disorder and left knee disorder are related to service, as well as to obtain updated medical records and a comprehensive examination.

The Board denied service connection for lumbar DDD and facet disease, as well as an initial rating in excess of 10 percent for postoperative residuals of a left knee anterior cruciate ligament repair. The Veteran's right knee disorder was not found to be related to service.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for cervical and lumbar spine disabilities are being remanded due to the need for additional development, including obtaining updated VA treatment records and private medical records from identified providers.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for back disability, upper left extremity disorder, bilateral glaucoma, left ear hearing loss, hypertension, and scrotal abscess. The evidence did not establish current disabilities or a link between any claimed conditions and military service.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded to the RO via the Appeals Management Center (AMC) in Washington, DC for further development and consideration of his claims. The issues of an increased rating higher than 40 percent for the service-connected low back disability and a TDIU rating are deferred until after completion of the necessary actions.

The Veteran's PTSD has been rated at 30 percent, and his lumbosacral spine disability was also rated at 20 percent. The Board is remanding the case to schedule a VA examination for the lumbosacral spine.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection and increased ratings for his cervical spine, lumbar spine, and sciatica disabilities. The Veteran's cervical spine disability is not related to service or a service-connected condition. His lumbar spine disability does not meet the criteria for an increased rating beyond 20%. His sciatica disabilities do not warrant additional ratings.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for issuance of a SOC addressing his claims and readjudication.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining VA and private treatment records and scheduling a VA examination to address the etiology of his low back and right knee complaints and the severity of his left knee disability.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for left upper extremity neuropathy, right upper extremity neuropathy, left lower extremity neuropathy, and right lower extremity neuropathy. The claim for low back disorder was also denied.

The Veteran's claim for a rating in excess of 40 percent for her low back disability was denied as the evidence did not show ankylosis, separately ratable neurological symptoms, or incapacitating episodes of 6 weeks or more in the past 12 months.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's lower back disorder is caused by his service-connected traumatic arthritis of the right ankle, and thus grants service connection for this condition.