Back / lumbar spine decisions — 2010

The Board has remanded the appeal for additional development, including obtaining medical records and providing VA examinations to assess the Veteran's bilateral knee disorder and back disorder.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for further development, including a neurological examination and possible CT scan of the lumbar spine.

The Veteran's claims for increased evaluations for his service-connected intervertebral disc syndrome of the lumbar spine with degenerative arthritis and left knee degenerative arthritis are being remanded due to the need for additional development, including scheduling VA examinations.

The Board has remanded the case to the RO for a Travel Board hearing.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's left hip and back disabilities are related to his active service, granting service connection for these conditions.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's claimed conditions are not related to her active service and thus denied her claims for service connection.

The Veteran's claims for service connection and increased ratings were denied. The Board found that the evidence did not support a finding of direct service connection for most conditions, and there was no indication of any exposure to known causative agents.

The Veteran's right knee disability was granted service connection. The issues of left knee, low back, migraine headaches, and sinus disabilities are still pending.

The Veteran's cause of death was due to adenocarcinoma of the colon, which is not service-connected. The Board found that none of his service-connected conditions caused or contributed substantially or materially to his death.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for lung damage, pes planus (flat foot), cataracts, and a spinal disability. The claim for alcoholism and drug abuse was not granted as a matter of law due to the prohibition on direct service connection after October 31, 1990.

The Board has determined that additional evidentiary development is necessary prior to the adjudication of the appellant's claims, including preparation of a Statement of the Case for the issue of entitlement to an increased disability rating for atopic dermatitis, keratosis pilaris. The AMC should contact the appellant to determine which issues she wishes to appeal and schedule VA examinations based on her clarification.

The Veteran's claim for an increased rating for his lumbar spine condition is being remanded due to the need for a new VA examination and consideration of TDIU.

The Board has granted the Veteran's request to reopen his claim of service connection for a back disability, finding that new and material evidence has been received. The case is now remanded for further development.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including obtaining medical records and providing supplemental opinions from a VA examiner. The Veteran's claims of service connection for thoracolumbar spine disability and arthritis of the shoulders are on appeal.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for DDD of the lumbosacral spine and tinea unguium were denied. The VA found that his conditions did not meet the criteria for higher ratings under the applicable rating schedule.

The Board denied the claim for service connection for a back disorder, finding no credible medical evidence that the diagnosed degenerative disc disease of the lumbar spine was the result of an injury incurred during military service or due to or the result of the Veteran's service-connected bilateral knee disability. The decision is final.

The Veteran's claim for a higher initial rating for his low back disability was denied. The VA determined that the current 20 percent rating adequately reflects the severity of his condition, which includes limitation of motion and associated left-sided radiculopathy.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining updated VA treatment records and scheduling a VA examination to assess the current severity of his service-connected disabilities. The claims will be reconsidered in light of all pertinent evidence and legal authority.

The Veteran's PTSD is rated at 50 percent, chronic lumbar strain with scoliosis at 10 percent for each knee, and the ratings are granted.