Back / lumbar spine decisions — 2010

The Veteran's case is within the jurisdiction of the Montgomery, Alabama RO and needs to be remanded for a Travel Board hearing at the RO level.

The Board has decided to remand the Veteran's claims for service connection due to incomplete medical records and the need for further examination. The Veteran is entitled to a VA examination to determine if he currently has a back disability or residuals of a left foot fracture, which may be related to his military service.

The Board denied service connection for hypertension, right shoulder pain and right scapula condition, chest pain, bronchitis, influenza with headaches, low back disability, esophoria, nosebleed, and residuals of a foreign object in the eye. The claims were not reopened due to lack of new and material evidence.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded to the RO for scheduling a videoconference hearing and any further development as requested. The case will be returned to the Board after this.

The Veteran's claims for lumbar strain, bilateral foot condition, and bilateral knee condition are denied as there is no evidence of a current disability or connection to service.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for hearing loss, shrapnel wound of the head with damage to the right eye, and back condition were denied. The claim for PTSD was granted but an increased evaluation is still pending.

The Veteran's low back disorder is currently rated as 10 percent disabling under the provisions of Diagnostic Code 5243 for intervertebral disc syndrome. The Board finds that an evaluation in excess of 10 percent is not warranted.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining SSA records and scheduling a VA examination to determine the etiology of his bilateral hearing loss.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for a right ankle strain, PTSD, and degenerative disc disease at L5-S1 level. The Veteran was also denied a compensable rating for an appendectomy scar.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded due to scheduling issues for a Travel Board hearing and issuance of a Statement of the Case.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for low back and neck disabilities are being remanded due to the need for additional development, including obtaining medical opinions regarding the etiology of his current disabilities.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's current lumbar spine disorder is not related to his active service and has denied his claim for service connection.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded to the RO for additional development, including obtaining medical records and adjudicating his TDIU claim. The case will be returned to the Board after these actions are completed.

The Veteran's low back disability has been rated as 10 percent since December 11, 2008. He is also entitled to a separate rating for radiculopathy of the right lower extremity.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development of his claims, including obtaining updated medical records and scheduling VA examinations to determine the nature and etiology of any diagnosed conditions.

The Veteran's low back disability is currently rated at 20 percent, and the evidence does not support a higher rating based on his current symptoms. The VA has determined that he meets the criteria for a 40 percent rating but no more.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's back disability may be related to his service-connected knee disabilities, and additional evidence is needed to make a determination.

The Board has decided to remand the case for further development, including scheduling a VA examination and determining whether service connection is warranted for a low back disability.

The Veteran's low back disability has been rated at 20 percent, and the Board finds that a higher rating is not warranted based on his current symptoms.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for a back disorder, an acquired psychiatric disorder, and residuals of heat stroke. The evidence submitted since the last final denial was not considered material to reopen any of these claims.