Back / lumbar spine decisions — 2011

The Board has received notification from the Appellant that he wishes to withdraw his claims for service connection for ankylosing spondylitis of the thoracolumbar and cervical spine, lateral epicondylitis of the right elbow, a right forearm injury, and degenerative arthritis of the right knee. As such, these claims are dismissed.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's back disorder is related to his military service, resolving reasonable doubt in favor of the Veteran.

The Veteran's initial claim for a higher evaluation for suprapubic hernias was granted, with a 20% rating effective August 26, 2008. The issue of an increased evaluation for degenerative disc disease of the lumbar spine remains denied.,The Veteran had two small reducible ventral hernias initially diagnosed in March 2007 and later noted to have doubled in size by August 2008.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded to provide a new VA examination for his claimed back and foot disorders, as the previous examinations are inadequate. The Veteran will be provided with an opportunity to respond to the supplemental statement of the case.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for PTSD was previously denied in June 1997 due to lack of medical evidence and insufficient information to verify a stressor. The RO has not received new and material evidence since that time, thus the claim remains denied.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded to the RO for further examination and development of his service-connected chronic lumbosacral strain.

The Veteran's chronic lumbar and cervical strain, claimed as degenerative arthritis of the spine, did not manifest during or as a result of active military service.,The Veteran's umbilical hernia did not manifest during or as a result of active military service.

The Veteran's claim for an increased rating for his service-connected lumbar strain is being remanded due to the need for further development, including obtaining clarification on whether he wishes to reopen claims for service connection for cervical spine and thoracic spine disabilities. The TDIU claim is also being remanded.

The Board has determined that the reduction of the Veteran's disability rating from 40 percent to 20 percent for low back pain associated with degenerative disc disease at L4-L5 was improper and restored the original 40 percent rating effective May 1, 2010.

The Board has determined that there is no evidence to support the Veteran's claims for service connection for cervical and lumbar spine disabilities, as they are not shown to be related to his military service.,For the period from October 23, 2002, to September 9, 2010, the Veteran's post-lumbar puncture headache disorder did not meet the criteria for a rating in excess of 10 percent.

The Board has remanded the case due to incomplete records and the need for a VA examination. The Veteran's claim of service connection for a low back disability is pending.

The Board found no evidence of a direct causal relationship between the Veteran's low back and left knee disabilities and his military service, thus denying service connection for these conditions.

The Veteran's claim is being remanded due to the need for additional development, including new VA examinations and clarification of his lumbar radiculitis diagnosis.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including a VA examination and evaluation under 38 C.F.R. § 4.16(b) to determine if the Veteran's service-connected disability prevents him from securing or following a substantially gainful occupation.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for further development due to the need for updated medical examinations and opinions regarding his spine condition.

The Veteran's claim for a higher disability rating for his lumbosacral strain with degenerative disc changes and narrowing of L4-5 is being remanded due to the need for additional development, including obtaining Social Security Administration (SSA) records and VA medical records.

The Veteran's cervical spine disability is etiologically related to his active service, and the Board has granted service connection for this disability. The Veteran's thoracolumbar strain rating remains unchanged.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for degenerative arthritis of the lumbar spine and left knee disability, both secondary to a left ankle sprain, are being remanded due to additional evidence submitted since the last supplemental statement of the case.

The Veteran's current frostbite of the left foot is not shown to be causally or etiologically related to his active military service. The Board denied the claim for service connection.

The Veteran's thoracolumbar strain does not meet the criteria for a higher rating, as it does not result in forward flexion limited to less than 60 degrees, combined range of motion limited to less than 120 degrees, or muscle spasm/ guarding severe enough to affect gait or spinal contour. The Veteran's symptoms are adequately addressed by his current 10% rating.