Back / lumbar spine decisions — 2011

The Board has determined that additional development is needed for the Veteran's claims, including obtaining medical opinions and records. The case will be remanded to the RO for further action.

The Veteran's disability, a back disorder, has been determined to be permanent and total for VA pension purposes due to his receipt of Supplemental Security Income (SSI) payments from the Social Security Administration.

The Board has determined that additional development is needed to properly adjudicate the Veteran's claims for service connection, including obtaining medical opinions regarding the etiology of his claimed conditions.

The Veteran's service-connected lumbar spine disorder was evaluated at a 20 percent rating since September 23, 2002. The appeal is denied as the disability does not warrant an evaluation in excess of 20 percent.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for additional development, including obtaining SSA disability determination records and arranging for a VA examination to determine if his low back disorder is related to service.

The Veteran's service-connected lumbosacral strain alone does not preclude him from securing or following a substantially gainful occupation.

The Veteran's claims for increased evaluations for his service-connected lumbar strain with degenerative joint disease and degenerative disc disease were denied by the Board of Veterans' Appeals (BVA).

The Board has reopened the Veteran's claim for service connection of a low back disorder, but further development is needed to determine if the condition was aggravated by military service.

The Veteran's claims for increased disability ratings for her low back strain, cervical spine strain, right ankle strain, and left ankle strain were denied. The current disability ratings of 20 percent for the low back strain and 10 percent each for the cervical spine, right ankle, and left ankle strains are maintained.

The Board has granted a 10 percent rating for degenerative arthritis of the left knee and lumbosacral spine, but denied an increased rating for the right knee. The Veteran's disability is rated under the General Formula for Diseases and Injuries of the Spine.

The Board found that the Veteran's current low back disability is not related to his active duty service and more likely than not due to aging, morbid obesity, physical inactivity, and genetic predisposition.

The Board has remanded the case for further development, including scheduling a VA examination to assess the Veteran's low back disorder and determine its relationship to his service-connected disabilities.

The Board found that the Veteran's claimed back disability was not incurred in or aggravated by active service and may not be presumed due to his period of service.

The Board has remanded the case due to inadequate examination and need for additional development.

The Board finds that the Veteran's left eye and low back disorders are not service-connected as they were not incurred or aggravated during his military service.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded to obtain additional service treatment and personnel records, clarify his National Guard service status, provide notice regarding the requirements for reopening a secondary service connection claim, schedule VA examinations for his right knee, low back, and psychiatric disabilities, and determine whether he is unemployable due to his service-connected conditions.

The Board has determined that the Veteran does not have a currently diagnosed bilateral knee or low back disability, and thus service connection is denied.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss and a neck and upper and lower back disorder (cervical, thoracic/dorsal, and/or lumbosacral spine) to include arthritic change as there is no current disability in either condition.

The Board has reopened the claims for service connection for low back and neck disorders, finding new and material evidence. The claim is now remanded to further develop the underlying merits of these claims.

The Board has determined that the Veteran does not have current right knee or low back disabilities, and therefore cannot establish service connection for these conditions.