Back / lumbar spine decisions — 2010

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not prevent him from securing and retaining some type of substantially gainful employment.

The Board has remanded the case for further development, including another VA examination to determine the etiology of the Veteran's flat feet and back disability. The claims will be readjudicated after this additional development.

The VA determined that the Veteran's current back disorder is not related to his military service.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including verifying the Veteran's service in the Persian Gulf and obtaining his Navy reserve records. The PTSD claim will be adjudicated based on whether the claimed stressors are related to fear of hostile military or terrorist activity.

The Veteran's low back disability was granted an initial rating of 40 percent effective March 1, 2007. The laceration scar of the right elbow remains at a non-compensable evaluation.

The Veteran is seeking service connection for a low back disability. The Board has determined that additional development, including a VA examination and medical opinion, is needed to resolve the claim.

The Board denied reopening of service connection for an acquired psychiatric disability, including schizophrenia. The claim for tonsillitis was also denied. Service connection for a back disorder was not established.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities have rendered him unemployable, and a VA examination is needed to assess the impact of these conditions on his ability to work.

The Board has determined that additional development is necessary prior to the adjudication of the Veteran's claims for service connection due to missing service treatment records and a need for medical examinations.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded to obtain additional medical records and a clarifying VA opinion regarding the nature and etiology of any umbilical hernia, as well as to determine if service connection for an umbilical hernia should be granted.

The Veteran's lumbosacral strain, myositis was found to be manifested by pain and stiffness in the lumbar area. The evaluation assigned is denied as it does not meet the criteria for an evaluation in excess of 20 percent. For his status post left index and middle finger fracture, a compensable evaluation is also denied.

The Veteran's initial claim for a compensable rating prior to July 23, 2009, and a rating in excess of 10 percent since then for cervical spine DDD was granted. The current rating is 10 percent.

The Veteran's degenerative joint disease of the thoracolumbar spine was found to be manifested by pain with flexion to 90 degrees and a combined range of motion of 240 degrees without abnormal gait, spinal contour, or vertebral body fracture. The rating assigned is 10 percent before November 24, 2008.

The Board found no credible evidence linking the Veteran's current low back disability to his service, including a motorcycle accident in 1982. The claim for service connection was denied.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development to determine the nature and etiology of his claimed disabilities, including whether they are related to service.

The Veteran's request to reopen his previously denied claim of service connection for bilateral hearing loss was denied. The Board found that the evidence did not establish a link between his current hearing loss and military service.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims of service connection for a lumbar spine disorder and an initial evaluation in excess of 10 percent for coronary artery disease. The Veteran's current lumbar spine disorder is not considered to be related to his active service, and there was no evidence of chronic disability within one year post-service discharge.

The Veteran is unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation due to his service-connected disabilities, and the Board has granted TDIU.

The Veteran's left shoulder impingement and low back pain with degenerative disc disease have been granted initial evaluations of 20 percent each.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development due to incomplete compliance with prior instructions.