Back / lumbar spine decisions — 2010

The Board has remanded the case for further development, including verification of the Veteran's qualifying service in the West Virginia National Guard and a supplemental statement from the VA examiner regarding any potential connection between his low back disorder and this additional service.

The Veteran's claims for higher initial ratings for service-connected lumbar disc herniation and right lower radiculopathy, as well as his requests to establish service connection for various knee and hip disabilities, are being remanded due to the need for additional examinations and development of records.

The Board denied the claim for service connection for low back disability, finding that there was no evidence of a current disability related to service.

The Board found that the Veteran's low back, right hip, and right leg disabilities are not causally or etiologically related to service or his service-connected residuals of a shrapnel wound. Therefore, service connection for these conditions is denied.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's current low back disorder is not related to service and was not caused or aggravated by a service-connected right knee disability.

The Veteran has withdrawn his appeal for service connection of a low back disability. As there are no remaining issues, the appeal is dismissed.

The VA determined that the Veteran's chronic low back disorder was not incurred in or aggravated by service, and arthritis is not presumed to have been incurred due to lack of evidence.

The Veteran's compensable evaluation for residuals of an injury to the coccyx and sacrum is granted at a rating of 10 percent.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's current degenerative disc disease of the lumbar spine and residuals of a left knee injury are not related to his military service.

The Board found no evidence of a lumbar or cervical spine disability during service and denied the Veteran's claims for service connection as there was insufficient medical evidence to link current disabilities to service.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for back and right shoulder disabilities due to a failure to ensure compliance with the duty to assist, requiring additional medical treatment records from the St. Louis VA Medical Center.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient evidence and a need for further examination.

The Veteran's major affective disorder with intermittent explosive disorder is rated at 100 percent, hypertension at 10 percent, gastritis at 10 percent, and lumbosacral strain at 10 percent throughout the claims period. The Veteran's service-connected conditions have resulted in total occupational and social impairment.

The Veteran's claim for an increased rating in excess of 20 percent for his lumbar spondylolisthesis is being remanded due to the need for a new VA examination and consideration of the most recent rating criteria.

The Board found no evidence of a relationship between the Veteran's current degenerative disc disease of the cervical spine and his military service, nor did it support a finding that this condition was caused or aggravated by his service-connected chronic myofascial strain of the cervical spine and right trapezius muscle.

The Veteran's lumbar spine strain with degenerative changes of L3-L4 is currently rated at 20 percent, effective March 24, 2006. The claim for an increased rating is denied as the disability does not meet the criteria for a higher rating.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, a bilateral knee disability, a bilateral hip disability, and a low back disability have all been denied. The Board found no evidence of current disabilities or a nexus to service.

The Board finds that the Veteran's degenerative arthritis of the lumbar spine was not incurred or aggravated by service, and may not be presumed to have been incurred in or aggravated by service.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development of his claims, including obtaining his service treatment records and private medical records.

The Veteran's claims for service connection are being remanded due to the need for additional examinations and development of records.