Back / lumbar spine decisions — 2011

The Board has dismissed the appeal of the claim for service connection for a neck disorder as the Veteran withdrew his appeal prior to the decision.

The Board has determined that additional development of the evidence is required, including obtaining VA and private treatment records, verifying in-service stressor allegations, and scheduling VA examinations to determine the nature and etiology of the Veteran's claimed disabilities.

The Board denied service connection for cervical and lumbar spine disabilities, finding that the Veteran's current conditions were not incurred or aggravated by his military service.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded due to the need for additional development, including obtaining medical records and verifying her 1998 motor vehicle accident. The examiner will be asked to address whether her in-service employment as a dental assistant or her heavy breasts caused or aggravated her current spine disabilities.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's case for further development, including obtaining a new VA examination and considering additional evidence. The claims of service connection for a low back disability and reopening of his hypertension claim are being reviewed.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's low back disorder is related to his military service and grants the claim for service connection.

The Board has remanded the case due to incomplete development, specifically the lack of an April 1999 X-ray report. The Veteran's claim for service connection for a low back disability will be reconsidered with this additional evidence.

The Veteran's claim for an effective date earlier than January 14, 2006 for the grant of service connection for lumbar spine hypertrophic osteoarthritis was denied. The effective date is set at November 18, 2005.

The Veteran's claim for an initial rating greater than 20 percent for degenerative disc disease of the lumbar spine and a separate 10 percent rating for radiculopathy of the right leg was denied. The primary issue is that his disability does not meet the criteria for higher ratings under applicable diagnostic codes.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for right knee, left knee, right hip, left hip, and low back disabilities as secondary to his service-connected bilateral pes planus due to insufficient evidence of a direct relationship between these conditions and his service.

The Board has determined that a low back disability, to include degenerative joint disease of the lumbar spine, was not incurred in or aggravated by service and cannot be presumed to have been incurred in service. The Veteran's current condition is not related to his military service.

The Board denied service connection for the Veteran's claimed disabilities, including a disability of the lower left extremity and arthralgia of lumbosacral area. The decision is based on lack of evidence linking these conditions to service or inservice herbicide exposure.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's claim for service connection for a low back disability, to include as secondary to his service-connected left hallux valgus with bunionectomy and proximal metatarsal crest osteotomy disability, requires additional development. The case is being remanded for further examination and opinion regarding the etiology of the Veteran's low back disability.

The Veteran's claims for higher evaluations of his low back disability and cervical spine disability, as well as bilateral knee disabilities, were denied. The evidence did not meet the criteria for a higher evaluation under the old or new rating criteria.

The Board found that the Veteran's current back disabilities, including osteoarthritis and degenerative joint disease of the lumbar spine, were not incurred in or aggravated by his active service. The VA examiner concluded that there was no evidence of chronicity for this condition.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities render him incapable of protecting himself from daily life hazards without the aid and attendance of another person, warranting SMC based on need for regular aid and attendance.

The Veteran seeks service connection for diabetes mellitus, Type II. The Board has remanded the case due to incomplete medical records and a need for an addendum opinion regarding whether his diabetes is secondary to in-service TB treatment with INH therapy.

The Veteran's claim for automobile and adaptive equipment or adaptive equipment only is granted due to effective loss of use of the right foot, which is service-connected.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for further development, including obtaining additional VA treatment records and scheduling a VA spine examination to assess the severity of his service-connected lumbar spine disability. Additionally, he will be afforded an opinion regarding whether his service-connected disability alone renders him unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation.

The Veteran's claim for an increased evaluation for his service-connected degenerative disc disease of the lumbar spine was denied as his disability did not warrant a rating higher than 20 percent.