Back / lumbar spine decisions — 2011

The Board has determined that the Veteran's right knee, left knee, and low back disabilities are not service-connected as they did not manifest during active duty or are not related to his military service.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded to obtain additional medical examinations and opinions regarding the etiology of his claimed conditions, as well as for further development.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for increased ratings for his lumbar strain, left knee chondromalacia, and right knee chondromalacia as they do not meet the criteria under the applicable rating schedule.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for eye, nose and throat, and back disorders are being remanded due to the need for additional development including VA examinations.

The Veteran's lumbar spine strain is currently rated at 10 percent, and his hypertension and high cholesterol are not service-connected. The claim for secondary service connection was denied.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for a back disability and a psychiatric disability, both claimed as secondary to his service-connected sural nerve impairment. The evidence does not support these claims.

The Veteran's appeal is for a TDIU based on his service-connected disabilities. The Board has determined that further development, including obtaining medical opinions regarding the impact of these conditions on employment, is needed before deciding this claim.

Service connection for numbness of the hands and feet is granted.,A 20 percent evaluation for mechanical low back pain is granted.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's service-connected lumbar spondylosis warrants a 10 percent disability rating, effective from May 28, 2010. The Veteran's other claims for service connection and increased ratings have been denied.

The Board has determined that the VA examination report is inadequate and remands for a new examination to determine the etiology of the Veteran's lower back disability, including whether it is related to service or his service-connected bilateral knee disability.

The Board has determined that new and material evidence has been received to reopen the Veteran's claim of service connection for a low back disability. The case is remanded for further development, including obtaining records from Fort Benenning Army Hospital and an advisory medical opinion.

The Veteran does not have a back disability that is attributable to his active military service and the claim for service connection must be denied.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for further development, including obtaining medical records and arranging for an orthopedic examination to assess the severity of his service-connected lumbar myositis.

The Board of Veterans' Appeals has determined that there is not enough evidence to support the claim for service connection for a low back disorder, and thus the appeal is denied.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's appeal for additional development due to incomplete records and procedural issues.

The Veteran's overall disability rating is 80 percent, meeting the schedular standards for consideration of a TDIU. However, he does not meet the requirement of being unable to secure or follow substantially gainful occupation due to his service-connected disabilities as he has been employed in managerial positions since at least November 1998 and can still perform some work duties despite his disabilities.

The Board found no evidence of a chronic back disability in service or within one year after separation, and concluded that the Veteran's current back disability is not etiologically related to his military service.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded to schedule a VA examination for his lumbar spine disability and cervical spine strain with peripheral radiculopathy, as well as obtain any outstanding VA treatment records. The claims will be readjudicated after these actions.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's chronic muscle strain of the lumbar spine and sacroiliac joint dysfunction with hypermobility are at least as likely as not related to his active duty service. The appeal is granted.

The Board has granted service connection for low back pain but denied service connection for left hip pain. The decision is mixed as it grants one condition and denies another.