Back / lumbar spine decisions — 2011

The Board found no evidence of a chronic neck or low back injury in service and rejected the Veteran's allegations. The current disabilities are not related to service, including any in-service injuries.

The Board has granted service connection for a low back disability, finding that the Veteran's long-documented complaints of chronic low back pain since service represent continuity of symptomatology and are sufficient to establish service connection.

The Veteran's claims are being remanded for further development, including scheduling VA examinations and providing proper VCAA notification.

The Board has determined that the claims need to be remanded for proper VCAA notice and readjudication.

The Veteran's lumbar spine disorder is found to be proximately due to, the result of, or aggravated by his service-connected right ankle disability. The issue for an increased evaluation in excess of 40 percent for post-operative residuals of a stress fracture of the right tarsal navicular with early degenerative changes has been withdrawn.

The Veteran's claims for increased evaluation and service connection were denied.,Service connection was not granted for a left wrist disability or right ankle disability.

The Veteran is rated as 100 percent disabled from his service-connected left knee and lumbar spine disabilities. The Board has granted entitlement to specially adapted housing or special home adaption, and adaptive equipment only.

The Veteran's degenerative disc disease of the lumbar spine is currently rated at 20 percent, and his bilateral pes planus is rated at 10 percent. The initial ratings have been granted.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for a low back disorder is being remanded due to the need for additional development, including an addendum VA opinion.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for a low back disability was denied. The VA compensation claim for the surgical removal of a growth on his lower spine in 1974 was granted, but no additional disability or aggravation due to VA treatment is recognized.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for degenerative changes of the lumbar spine, claimed as secondary to his service-connected bilateral hip and knee strain, is being remanded due to incomplete development. Additional medical opinions are needed regarding whether the low back disability existed prior to service and if it was aggravated by service-connected disabilities.

The Board has remanded the case for further development to determine if the Veteran's current left knee disability is related to her service-connected back disability or any other in-service event.

The Veteran seeks service connection for several disabilities, including a fracture of the right fifth finger, a disability of the lumbosacral spine, and bilateral hearing loss. The case is REMANDED to obtain additional evidence regarding the Veteran's claims.

The Board is remanding the case to the RO for scheduling a hearing and further development as requested by the Veteran.

The Board has remanded the case due to outstanding medical records and the Veteran's request for a Travel Board hearing.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded due to the need for updated medical records and a VA examination. The issue of entitlement to an increased evaluation for his lumbar spine disability remains pending.

The Veteran's low back strain with degenerative disc disease of the lumbar spine is rated at 20 percent effective July 9, 2007. The right lower leg skin rash is rated at 10 percent and lipomas are not compensable.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral pes planus, knee disability, hip disability, and back disability. The decision found that preexisting pes planus was not aggravated during active military service, there is no evidence of a current bilateral knee or hip disability related to active military service, and there is no evidence of spinal arthritis within one year following discharge from service.

The Veteran is seeking service connection for degenerative disc and joint disease of the lumbar spine, as secondary to his service-connected right ankle disability. The case has been REMANDED due to the need for additional medical examination and development.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for a back disability and numbness of the bilateral feet due to incomplete development, including the need for an opinion regarding whether his current disabilities preexisted military service.