Back / lumbar spine decisions — 2010

The Board found that the Veteran's current back symptoms are not related to his service-connected low back strain, and denied both claims for service connection and an increased rating.

The Veteran's service-connected low back disability is rated at 100 percent, effective from the date of this decision. The Veteran also meets criteria for special monthly compensation based on need for aid and attendance.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for a back disability, claimed as secondary to his service-connected postoperative status of pilonidal cyst and/or PTSD, is being remanded due to the need for additional development. The claim for service connection for PTSD has already been granted.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection of a skin disability and an initial evaluation in excess of 10 percent for degenerative disc disease (DDD) of the thoracic and lumbar spine. The DDD was rated at 10 percent, effective from the day following separation from service.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for a lumbar spine disorder, cervical spine/neck disorder, and bilateral leg disorder. The evidence does not show any chronic disability of these conditions during or within one year after service, nor is there any other link to service.

The Veteran's appeal for higher initial ratings for his service-connected lumbar and cervical spine disabilities has been denied. The Board found that the evidence did not support a schedular disability rating greater than 10 percent for any portion of the appeal period.

The Veteran's arthritis of the lumbar spine, shoulders, hips, knees, ankles, and feet was not manifested in service or within one year postservice. The Board finds no evidence to support a nexus between his service-connected diabetes mellitus and his claimed disabilities.

The Board has determined that the Veteran does not have residuals of a broken toe or lumbosacral spondylosis of L4-L5 without myelopathy (claimed as injury to the low back) due to service. The evidence does not support a finding of current disability related to service.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded for a VA examination to assess the current severity of his service-connected lumbosacral strain and any related neurological disability. The Veteran contends that his lower back condition has worsened, but no recent treatment records have been provided.

The Veteran's claim for initial compensable evaluation for bilateral hearing loss has been granted, with a rating of 10 percent. The claims for reopening service connection for postoperative degenerative disc disease of the lumbar spine and left shoulder disorder have also been granted. Service connection for vertigo is denied. The right hip arthritis claim remains pending as it was not addressed in this decision. The right knee arthritis and right ankle disorders are both rated at 20 percent.

The Veteran's claims for service connection are being remanded due to the need for additional development, including obtaining SSA records and VA examination reports.

The VA denied the appellant's claims for higher evaluations for cervical spine, lumbar spine, right knee, and bilateral hearing loss disabilities. The current ratings are 10 percent each.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for low back, bilateral arm, and bilateral leg disabilities are being remanded due to the need for additional development.

The Board found no evidence of a current back disorder related to active service and denied the Veteran's claim for service connection.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded to obtain a VA examination report that is adequate for the purposes of adjudication.

The Board has determined that new and material evidence to reopen the claim of service connection for a low back disability has not been received, and thus the application to reopen will be denied.

The Board found no evidence of a current low back disability or pes planus, and the Veteran's statements regarding her symptoms were not sufficient to establish service connection. The claim for service connection was denied.

The Veteran's back disability and acquired psychiatric disabilities, including PTSD, depression, and anxiety, are granted as they are found to be related to his military service.

The Board has remanded the case for further proceedings due to inadequate medical examinations and a need for clarification of the severity of the appellant's service-connected patellofemoral pain syndrome, as well as the nature and etiology of any low back and right knee disabilities.

The Board found no evidence of a current disability in any of the claimed conditions and concluded that there was insufficient medical evidence to link any of the Veteran's disabilities, including his ankle and leg problems, to service.