Back / lumbar spine decisions — 2011

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including a VA examination and issuance of a statement of the case on bilateral knee and hip disabilities.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection due to incomplete development and lack of consideration of new evidence.

The Veteran's right knee disability, bilateral hip disability, acquired psychiatric disorder, polymyalgia rheumatica, back disability, neck disability, and weight gain and obesity are not considered service-connected as they are deemed to be secondary to his service-connected left knee disabilities.

Service connection for headaches and numbness of the right leg was denied. The Veteran's pes planus, bunions of the right foot, and bunions of the left foot were granted with a 10% rating each.,The Veteran's lumbosacral strain claim remains pending.

The Board has granted service connection for lumbosacral disc disease with a rating of 20 percent and effective date of August 10, 2005. The claim to reopen for right knee disability is denied as new and material evidence does not show the Veteran now has such a condition. However, the claim to reopen for left knee disability is granted due to new and material evidence showing arthritis in the left knee.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded for additional examinations and development of his Social Security Administration records. The RO will also obtain a VA medical opinion regarding the impact of his service-connected disabilities on his ability to work.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss is denied as there is no evidence of a current disability. The Veteran's back disability, currently rated at 10 percent, does not meet the criteria for a higher rating based on range of motion or incapacitating episodes.

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

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded due to a scheduling issue for a hearing before the Board. The case will be processed in accordance with established appellate procedure.

The Board has determined that service connection for a low back disorder is granted, as the Veteran's current degenerative disc disease of the lumbar spine is related to his in-service injury and is not due to intercurrent causes.

The Veteran's claim for an undiagnosed illness manifested by muscle or joint pains was denied as there is no objective evidence of chronic disability resulting from such symptoms.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for increased ratings for back strain with degenerative disc disease and left lateral epicondylitis, finding that the evidence did not meet the criteria for higher evaluations under the applicable rating schedule.

The Board has determined that new and material evidence has been received to reopen the claim for service connection for diabetes mellitus. However, the evidence does not relate to a disease or injury in service, thus the claim remains denied.

The Veteran's claims for neck, low back, and migraine disorders are being remanded due to the need for additional VA examinations. The RO must ensure that proper notice was given regarding the scheduled examinations.

The Board has granted service connection for a low back disorder and a psychiatric disorder, finding that these conditions are related to military service.

The Board found that the Veteran's service-connected disabilities did not contribute substantially or materially to his death, and his death was not caused by a disability incurred in or aggravated by active service.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's current low back disorder is not related to his military service, including a fall from a ladder during active duty. The VA examiner found no medical evidence supporting a link between the Veteran's in-service injury and his current condition.

The Board found that the Veteran's right knee, left knee, and back disabilities were not incurred in or aggravated by active service.

The Board denied the appellant's claim for a total disability rating based on individual unemployability due to his service-connected disabilities (TDIU).

The Board denied the Veteran's requests to reopen his claims for service connection for a lumbar spine disability and bilateral knee disability due to lack of new and material evidence.