Back / lumbar spine decisions — 2011

The Board found no evidence to support the Veteran's claims for service connection of his left knee disorder, low back disability, and bilateral foot calluses. The Board determined that these conditions were not incurred or aggravated by active military service.

The Board has determined that additional development is necessary prior to the adjudication of these claims, including locating service treatment records and any available Social Security Administration disability records. The case is REMANDED for further action.

The Board denied the Veteran's request to reopen her claim for service connection of degenerative arthritis of the cervical and lumbar spine, finding that new and material evidence had not been received.

The Board is remanding the case for additional development, including obtaining VA medical records and arranging for a VA examination to address inconsistencies in the Veteran's low back disability findings from two different examinations.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings were denied. The Board found that the current evaluations of his service-connected disabilities are adequate and did not meet the criteria for higher ratings.

The Veteran's lumbar spine disability was rated at 20 percent prior to November 3, 2009 and from December 3, 2010. A rating in excess of 20 percent is not warranted for the Veteran's lumbar spine disability.

The Board has remanded the case to the RO for further evidentiary development due to a change in representation and request for records.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings were denied. The Board found that the evidence did not meet the criteria for a compensable rating prior to January 17, 2007 and did not meet the criteria for a rating in excess of 10 percent from January 17, 2007.

The Veteran's claim for a total rating on the basis of individual unemployability due to service-connected disability is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining Social Security Administration records and readjudication.

The Veteran does not have degenerative joint disease of the lumbar spine at L4-5 or L5-S1 that is related to his military service.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claim for a clarifying medical opinion to determine if his current back disorder is causally related to his military service.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including a new VA examination to determine if there is a 50 percent probability or greater that current lumbar spine disability is causally related to service, specifically the Veteran's reports of falling from an aircraft wing during active duty.

The Veteran's claim for a higher rating for his cervical spine disability was granted, with the effective date set at March 8, 2007. The issue of service connection for leg pain secondary to his cervical spine disability is also addressed and resolved in favor of the Veteran.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded to obtain additional medical records and for a VA examination. The issues of entitlement to increased rating for lumbar spine disorder and service connection for cervical spine disorder are before the Board.

The Board has decided to remand the case for further development and examination, as it is unclear whether the low back disability is related to service.

The Board has granted a rating of 30 percent for cervical spine strain and denied service connection for thoracolumbar strain. The claim to reopen the final disallowed thoracolumbar strain was also granted.

The Veteran's service connection claims for residuals of a low back injury, left leg disability, bilateral hearing loss, and tinnitus have been denied. The Board found no credible evidence of an in-service injury or chronic symptoms since service.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including a comprehensive VA examination of his low back and cervical spine disabilities. The RO/AMC must seek to obtain relevant medical records from private providers and coordinate with the Veteran for examinations at a U.S. VA hospital.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including a VA examination to assess the current severity of his service-connected lumbosacral strain, insomnia, and hypertension.