Back / lumbar spine decisions — 2011

The Board has determined that additional development is needed to determine the nature and etiology of the Veteran's current neck, lower back, and hypertension disabilities. Specifically, VA examinations are required to address whether these conditions were incurred or aggravated during service.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's current back and gastrointestinal disorders are not related to his military service, and thus denied both claims for service connection.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's low back disability was incurred during service and is therefore granted service connection.

The Board denied an increased rating for the Veteran's service-connected lumbar spine disability, but granted service connection for radiculopathy of the left lower extremity.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining SSA records and arranging for a VA examination.

The Board has remanded the cases for additional development, including obtaining SSA decision documents and providing a VA examination to evaluate the Veteran's low back disability.

The Board found no evidence of a current low back disability and concluded that the Veteran's claimed low back disability is not related to service, including her congenital sacralization.

The Board found that the Veteran's current eye and back disabilities are not related to his military service, thus denying service connection for these conditions.

The Veteran's service-connected low back condition is granted, and he is assigned a 10 percent rating. The claims for increased ratings for hallux valgus of the right foot and left foot are denied.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development due to outstanding records and incomplete information.

The Board found that there is no evidence linking the lumbar disorder or bilateral hearing loss to service, and denied both claims.

The Veteran's lumbar and cervical spine osteoporosis with DDD and DJD are rated at 20 percent each, effective from the date of his initial claims for service connection.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including scheduling a VA examination to assess the current severity of his service-connected lumbar spine and right leg disabilities.

The Board has determined that additional development is needed for the Veteran's claims, including obtaining medical records and scheduling VA examinations to assess his service-connected conditions.

The Board has determined that additional development of the record, including obtaining VA and private medical records, scheduling a VA examination for hepatitis C etiology, and scheduling a VA examination to evaluate the service-connected low back disability is necessary before deciding these issues.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development to obtain medical opinions regarding the etiology of his claimed conditions and their relationship to service.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining treatment records and scheduling a VA spine examination to assess the current severity of his service-connected lumbar sprain.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's current low back disability, including herniated discs, is related to her service and grants service connection for this condition.

The Board has reopened the Veteran's claim for service connection for circulatory obstruction of the right upper extremity with paresthesia, occasional pain, venous dilation, and limitation of motion. The Veteran is now entitled to service connection for this condition as it is found to be causally related to his military service.

The Board has reopened the Veteran's claim for service connection for degenerative disc disease of the lumbar spine and granted service connection based on evidence showing a link between his current condition and military service.