Back / lumbar spine decisions — 2010

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including obtaining VA treatment records from 1985 to 1998 and providing a clarifying medical opinion regarding the nature and etiology of any back disorder.

The Veteran's service-connected left knee chondromalacia is currently rated at 10 percent. The Board found that the evidence does not support a higher rating, and denied his claims for increased ratings for left ankle, hip, and low back disorders as secondary to the service-connected left knee disability.

The Veteran's claim for an increased disability evaluation for his service-connected fracture, first and second lumbar vertebrae is being remanded due to the Veteran not appearing at a scheduled Board hearing. The case will be rescheduled for a travel Board hearing.

The Board has remanded the case due to inconsistencies in the medical evidence and the need for a comprehensive examination to determine if any currently diagnosed low back or neck disorder is related to the Veteran's active military service.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder and a low back condition were denied. The claim for TDIU was also denied.

The Veteran is seeking service connection for various conditions including a lumbar spine condition, left knee condition, arthritis, bilateral hearing loss, and tinnitus. The Board has determined that additional development is necessary to obtain all relevant medical records.

The Veteran's service-connected cervical spine disability results in pain limiting his ability to flex his cervical spine to 15 degrees or less, but no ankylosis of the cervical spine. The Board finds that a 30 percent rating is warranted for this condition.

The Board finds that the Veteran does not have a lumbar spine disability that was caused or aggravated by his service. The claim for service connection is denied.

The Board found that the Veteran's back disorder was not incurred or aggravated during active service and is not related to his military service. The current condition is more likely due to a post-service motor vehicle accident.

The Board has granted service connection for degenerative arthritis and disc disease of the lumbar spine, but denied service connection for neck disability and residuals from shrapnel wounds. The Veteran's current back condition is deemed to be due to an in-service motor vehicle accident (MVA). His neck disability is not related to his period of active service. Residuals from shrapnel wounds are also not related to service.

The Board found that the Veteran's current low back disability did not start during service and was not caused by a disease or injury in service. The Board also noted that DJD of the lumbosacral spine, which is one of the conditions at issue, does not qualify for presumptive service connection under 38 C.F.R. § 3.309.

The Veteran seeks service connection for a lumbar spine disability, which he attributes to a fall from a truck during service. The Board has remanded the issue due to insufficient evidence regarding the etiology of his current lumbar spine condition.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for low back disability, right lower extremity disability, left lower extremity disability, and hypertension. The Veteran's current conditions are not shown to be related to his military service.

The Veteran's appeal was denied for increased ratings for PTSD, chronic low back disorder, and right wrist status post open reduction internal fixation of ulnar fracture. The appeals were not granted as the evidence did not meet the criteria for higher disability ratings under the applicable rating schedule.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's service-connected low back disability does not warrant a rating in excess of 20 percent, and his right knee disability does not warrant a rating in excess of 10 percent.

The Board has determined that new and material evidence has not been received to reopen the claim of service connection for residuals of a back injury. The Veteran's claim was previously denied in 1976, and no new or material evidence has been submitted since then.

The Veteran's increased rating claims for service-connected lumbar spine disability and conversion reaction with depression and anxiety are being remanded for further development, including obtaining SSA records and arranging for VA examinations.

The Board denied the appellant's claims of service connection for an acquired psychiatric disability, a cervical spine condition, and a lumbar spine condition. The decision is based on the lack of evidence linking these conditions to his military service.

The Board has determined that additional development of the evidence is required before a decision can be made on the Veteran's claims for service connection for low back, left foot, and right leg disorders.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings and service connection have been denied. The RO found that the current evaluations were appropriate, and no new evidence was submitted to reopen previously denied claims.