Back / lumbar spine decisions — 2011

The Board found that the Veteran's current lumbar spine disorder is not related to service, as there was no evidence of continuity of symptoms between his military complaint and the records where he complained of a back injury in the 1980s. The claim was denied.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded to the RO for scheduling a Travel Board hearing at the RO. The issues include reopening his claim of service connection for sterility and various other conditions.

The Veteran's disability rating for residuals of a low back injury with L5-S1 disc bulging has been granted at 40 percent, effective from the date of the decision.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for degenerative disc disease of the cervical spine, including as secondary to his service-connected disabilities, is being remanded due to inadequate VA examinations. The case will be readjudicated after a new examination.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's low back disability is service-connected, but further development is needed to address his right knee disorder claim.

The Veteran's current right knee, left knee, and lumbar spine disabilities were not found to be related to service.

The Veteran's tinnitus was found to be related to his period of active service, and the Board granted service connection for this condition. The other claims were not addressed in detail.

The Board has granted service connection for a cervical and thoracolumbar spine disability, finding that the Veteran's current conditions are due to injuries sustained during his military service.

The Veteran's claims for service connection are being remanded due to the need for additional development, including VA examinations.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining updated VA examinations and ensuring that all claims are properly adjudicated.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining updated VA treatment records and scheduling the Veteran for VA examinations to assess his lumbar spine disability, left knee disability, tension headaches status post traumatic brain injury, gastrointestinal disability (GERD), and left wrist disability.

The Board found no evidence to support the Veteran's claims of service connection for a back disability, hepatitis C, and left ankle disability. The VA examiners concluded that these conditions are not related to his military service.

The Board has denied the appellant's claims for service connection for right hand disability, back disability, allergic rhinitis and bronchitis, gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD), and depression due to a lack of evidence showing current disabilities or a nexus between any claimed conditions and service.

The Veteran's lumbosacral strain with degenerative changes and associated left lower extremity radiculopathy are currently rated at 20 percent, the highest available rating under the General Rating Formula for Diseases and Injuries of the Spine.

The Board has ordered a remand due to the need for another VA examination and opinion regarding whether there was negligence in diagnosing the Veteran's lumbar spine fracture, and if so, whether this resulted in additional disability.

The Veteran withdrew his appeals for increased initial evaluations in all three issues, including lumbar strain with degenerative disc disease, hypertension, and status post repair, flexor tendon, left little finger. As a result, the claims are dismissed.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded for additional development, including a new VA examination and consideration of the criteria for staged ratings.

The Board has granted service connection for a cervical spine disorder but denied the claim of entitlement to an initial compensable evaluation for lumbar spine disability.

The Board found that the December 1975 rating decision granting service connection and assigning a 0 percent rating for a low back disability was not clearly and unmistakably erroneous. The claim of service connection for a cervical spine disorder was not adjudicated at that time, as no formal or informal claim had been submitted. No effective date earlier than May 29, 1998, was granted for the lumbar spine rating.

The Veteran's cervical and thoracolumbar sprain disabilities have been rated at 10 percent since September 22, 2009. Prior to this date, the conditions were not service-connected.