Back / lumbar spine decisions — 2010

The Board found that the Veteran's in-service knee injury did not result in a chronic condition, and thus could not be presumed to have caused his current left knee disorder. The VA examiner concluded that the Veteran's present left knee arthritis was not due to or aggravated by his in-service injury.

The Veteran's left hip, right hip, and low back disorders were not incurred in or aggravated by service. The Board found no connection between the current diagnoses of rheumatoid arthritis and the service-connected residuals of a fracture of the right iliac crest.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including a VA examination to clarify the nature and etiology of any back disorders and to assess the current severity of the Veteran's left knee disability.

The Veteran's appeal has been withdrawn, and the case is dismissed.

The Veteran's lumbar spine disability is currently rated at 10 percent, but does not meet the criteria for a higher rating based on his symptoms and examination findings.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's low back disability was not incurred in or aggravated by active service and denied her claim for service connection.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including obtaining service treatment records and VA treatment records. The Veteran's claims of entitlement to service connection are related to his active duty service or incidents therein.

The Board has remanded the claims for further development due to inadequate medical opinions in a previous examination report.

The Veteran's back disability is currently rated at 10 percent, and the Board finds no basis for a higher rating under any applicable criteria.

The Board has decided in favor of the Veteran, granting service connection for degenerative disc disease of the lumbar spine.

The Board denied the claim of service connection for a low back disability, finding that the current condition is unrelated to an injury or event during service.

The Board found that there is no medical evidence relating the Veteran's current bilateral knee disability, lower back disability, and Achilles tendonitis to active military service. The claims for service connection were denied.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development due to inadequate examination reports and other issues.

The Board has determined that new and material evidence was not received to reopen the claim for service connection for a low back disability. The April 1983 rating decision denying this claim is final.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's lumbar spine degenerative disease, right foot fracture residuals, and left foot disorder are all related to service. Service connection is granted for these conditions.

The Veteran's cervical spine disability is rated at 40 percent, and the lumbar spine disability is rated at 10 percent prior to May 8, 2008. The right hand neuropathy was initially rated at 10 percent but has been severed.

The Veteran's claim for increased ratings for his service-connected degenerative joint disease of the lumbar spine is being remanded due to incomplete development.

The Board found that the Veteran's death was not due to his service-connected back disorder, and thus denied the claim for service connection for the cause of death.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities preclude him from securing and following substantially gainful employment, warranting a total disability rating based on individual unemployability.

The Board has granted service connection for a low back disability as secondary to a right leg disability, but denied service connection for a shortened right leg and bilateral hearing loss. The claim of service connection for herpes remains pending.