Back / lumbar spine decisions — 2010

The Veteran withdrew his appeal regarding the propriety of apportionment of VA benefits, and thus the Board does not have jurisdiction to review it.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's thoracolumbar disability is related to service and grants service connection for this condition.

The Veteran's claims for service connection are being remanded due to the need for further development and examination.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded to obtain additional medical records and for VA examinations to assess the severity of his service-connected pes planus and lumbar strain.

The Veteran's service-connected spondylolysis at the lumbosacral level with mild anterolisthesis of L5 and S1 is currently rated as 40 percent disabling, which reflects a functional loss due to pain and repetitive movement resulting in forward flexion limited to 30 degrees or less.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to the need for a VA examination to determine if any current back trouble prior to induction was a manifestation of any current back disability.

The Veteran's chronic low back disability did not result in forward flexion of the thoracolumbar spine to 30 degrees or less, nor was there unfavorable ankylosis. The Board found that a higher rating is not warranted.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's low back disability is not related to her military service and denied her claim. The Board also found no current residuals of a broken right index finger, but noted that additional VA examination was needed to determine if such residuals exist.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for heart murmur, hypertension, cyst on liver, sinusitis, enlarged prostate, and low back disorder due to Agent Orange exposure were denied as there is no positive association between such conditions and his period of active military service.

The Board has reopened the claim for service connection for a low back and neck disorder, currently diagnosed as DDD at C2 through C7 and lumbar spine mild facet arthropathy. The case is remanded to determine if this condition is related to inservice automobile accident.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's low back strain is service-connected and has granted a noncompensable rating. The Veteran's bilateral shin splints have also been granted, but are currently rated as noncompensable.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for right knee status post total knee arthroplasty and lumbar spinal stenosis status post laminectomy, finding that there was no evidence of a nexus between these conditions and his active service or any service-connected disability.

The Board found that a chronic upper back disability was not exhibited in service and the preponderance of evidence is against finding any current upper back disability related to active military service.

The Veteran seeks service connection for bilateral hip, back, shoulder, and arm disabilities. The Board has remanded the case for additional development.

The Board has determined that there is no evidence of a direct service connection for the Veteran's lumbar spine disability, and it is not secondary to his right knee disorder. The nasal injury was also denied as there is insufficient evidence linking the current sinusitis and deviated septum to military service.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded for issuance of a Statement of the Case on his claims for higher initial ratings for left hip disorder and lumbosacral strain with degenerative disc disease.

The Veteran's low back disability is rated at 20 percent, the highest available rating under the schedular criteria. The right knee disability was not service-connected.

The Board has remanded the case due to incomplete development and for consideration of extraschedular TDIU criteria.

The Veteran's claims for service connection and higher evaluations were denied. The appeal is not about service connection at all.

The Veteran's unauthorized medical expenses incurred for back surgery in March 2002 were not covered because the care was not rendered due to a medical emergency, and VA facilities were feasibly available.