Back / lumbar spine decisions — 2010

The Board has reopened the Veteran's claims for service connection for a back disorder, degenerative changes of the left knee, and right leg disorder as secondary to his service-connected residuals of aseptic meningitis. The rating assigned remains at 10 percent.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's claimed low back and left knee disabilities are not related to his military service, and thus denied these claims. The Veteran's headaches were also not found to be service-connected.

The Veteran's service-connected low back disability was not productive of limitation of motion to 30 degrees prior to March 4, 2009. The RO denied ratings in excess of 20 percent for the period before March 4, 2009 and denied a rating in excess of 40 percent after that date.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for a rating in excess of 20 percent for DDD with herniated nucleus pulposus, lumbosacral spine and an initial compensable evaluation for neuropathy of the left lower extremity from April 4, 2006.

The Veteran's claims for increased evaluations for his service-connected left lumbar myofascial pain syndrome with DDD of the lumbosacral spine and DJD of the left knee with history of medial collateral ligament strain were denied. The current ratings are 60 percent for the lumbar condition and 10 percent for the knee condition.

The Board has determined that additional development is needed for the Veteran's claims, including obtaining medical records and conducting VA examinations to determine the nature and etiology of his PTSD and seizure disorder.

The Board has reopened the Veteran's claim for service connection for a back disability, finding that new and material evidence has been submitted. The claim will now be considered on its merits.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for his lumbar spine and right knee disabilities are being remanded to allow for additional examinations and consideration of the evidence.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for further development, including obtaining VA and private treatment records, scheduling a VA examination, and updating the claims file.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for a low back disorder, right knee disorder, and an acquired psychiatric disorder (including PTSD). The denial was based on lack of new and material evidence to reopen these claims.

The Board found that the Veteran's lumbar and cervical spine disorders were not incurred or aggravated in service, nor may they be presumed to have been incurred due to his military service. The VA examiner attributed these conditions to natural progression of age rather than service connection.

The Board has determined that further development is needed to determine the Veteran's service connection claims for a back disorder and urinary disorder, including obtaining records from his Air Force Reserve service.

The Board has determined that the Veteran does not have a cervical spine disability, low back disability, or an acquired psychiatric disability due to disease or injury incurred in service. The evidence is insufficient to establish service connection for any of these conditions.

The Board has remanded the case for additional medical opinions to clarify any current psychiatric, back or lower leg disability that may be related to service.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss and lumbar spine disability are found to be related to service. The left foot disorder is not shown to be related to service.

The Board has remanded the case due to inadequate examination and treatment records review, requiring further development.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims of entitlement to service connection for tooth loss, bilateral hearing loss, back disability, right shoulder disability, and traumatic brain disease. The decision also addressed whether new and material evidence had been received to reopen previously denied claims for these conditions.

The Board denied the Veteran's petition to reopen his claim for service connection for a low back disorder as a residual of an injury, finding that new and material evidence had not been submitted.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims of service connection for back disorder, bilateral hearing loss, and lung disorder due to lack of new and material evidence.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for further development, including obtaining SSA disability determination records and considering extra-schedular evaluations.