Back / lumbar spine decisions — 2011

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining service treatment records and scheduling a VA examination to assess the severity of his service-connected right ankle, lower back, right knee, left heel spur, and cervical spine disorders.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for back, left knee, and right knee disabilities were denied as there is no current diagnosis of these conditions.

The Veteran's lumbar spine disability is service connected as it is related to his in-service injury.,His urinary tract disability, including the right flank and lower abdomen pain, is service connected due to its relation to his in-service shrapnel wounds.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's claims for service connection are not solely about service connection and have requested additional development to address other issues, including a psychiatric disorder claim due to personal assault allegations.

The Veteran is currently service connected for degenerative joint disease of the lumbosacral spine, rated as 60 percent disabling. The evidence shows that the Veteran's disability makes it impossible for him to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation.

The Board has reopened the Veteran's claims for service connection for tinnitus, right wrist disorder, and back disorder due to new evidence submitted since the October 2006 rating decision. The claims for right wrist disorder and back disorder remain denied as they do not meet the criteria for reopening.

The Veteran's claim for an initial evaluation in excess of 10 percent for his chronic lumbar strain and left sacroiliac strain is being remanded due to the need for a new VA examination.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for headaches has already been granted, and the Board finds no question of law or fact to be decided regarding this issue. The remaining claims are addressed in the REMAND below.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for a VA examination to determine if his current back conditions are related to service, specifically in regard to his treatment while in service.

The Board has remanded the case for further development and examination, including consideration of new regulations regarding PTSD. The Veteran's claims will be adjudicated based on the additional evidence obtained.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims of service connection for bilateral painful heels with degenerative changes, as well as his claims for increased evaluations for left and right painful heels. The case is also remanded to obtain a discharge physical from the U.S. Army and Joint Services Records Research Center (JSRRC) or National Archives Records Administration (NARA).

The Board found no evidence of current diagnoses for the claimed conditions and thus denied service connection for lower lumbar vertebrae condition/ lower back problems and mid-thoracic spinal cord damage.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's lumbar stenosis with disc bulging is service-connected, as it is more likely than not related to his in-service injury.

The Veteran withdrew her appeal for all issues except possibly service connection on the merits.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims of entitlement to service connection for various disabilities, including an acquired psychiatric disorder, pes planus, bilateral ankle and knee disabilities, bilateral hip disabilities, and a low back disability. The Board found that there was no evidence of aggravation or pre-existing conditions in service.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's cervical and lumbar spine disorders are not related to his military service.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for increased ratings for allergies, asbestosis, and TDIU due to a service-connected disability. The decision also noted that the Veteran's current rating of 30 percent for asbestosis is appropriate based on his pulmonary function test results.

The Board found that the appellant's current low back disability is not causally related to his active service or any incident therein.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development and consideration of his claims, including a TDIU claim.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for a low back disability and bilateral ankle disability are being remanded due to the need for additional development, including obtaining VA treatment records from July 2010 to the present and an addendum opinion regarding the etiology of her current disabilities.