Back / lumbar spine decisions — 2011

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining updated VA and private treatment records, as well as a new VA examination to assess the severity of her service-connected lumbar spine disability and whether her current bilateral foot condition is related to service or service-connected disabilities.

The Board has reviewed the evidence submitted since the final October 1999 rating decision and finds that it does not provide new and material evidence to reopen the Veteran's claim for service connection for a back disorder.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's appeal due to inadequate development of his service connection claim for a lumbosacral spine disability and TDIU claim. The case is returned to the RO/AMC for further development.

The Board has determined that additional development is needed to determine the relationship of any current back and neck disabilities to service, including a review of VA treatment records from 1974 and private hospitalization records from February 1973. The Veteran's reports of injuries in service are considered.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims of service connection for a bilateral knee disability, right shoulder disability, and left foot disability. The issues of initial compensable evaluations for left ear hearing loss and right shoulder disability were addressed but not decided.

The Veteran's lumbar strain with degenerative disc disease is currently rated at 20 percent, effective June 16, 2008. His meralgia paresthetica of the left lower extremity remains noncompensable.

The Veteran seeks an evaluation in excess of 10 percent for his service-connected thoracolumbar spine degenerative disc disease and strain. The case is REMANDED to obtain VA treatment records, schedule the Veteran for a VA medical examination, and readjudicate the claim.

The Board denied service connection for back and left knee disabilities, but reopened the claim for a left ankle disability due to new evidence submitted by the Veteran.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded to the RO for scheduling a video-conference hearing. The remaining issues on appeal include reopening and service connection claims, as well as rating increases.

The Veteran's degenerative disk disease of the lumbosacral spine with episodes of acute pain is rated at 20 percent, effective December 28, 2005. He also has a separate 10 percent rating for right lower extremity neurological manifestations due to sciatic nerve involvement.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for low back disability, bilateral knee disability, and residuals of septoplasty. The Veteran did not present a current diagnosis for any of these conditions.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded for further development, including a VA examination to assess the current severity of his service-connected lumbar spine disability.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for a low back disorder is being remanded due to the need for additional development, including obtaining medical records and opinions.

The Board has found that the Veteran's service records indicate combat exposure, and his lay statements regarding parachute jumps and helicopter crashes during service are consistent with this. The VA medical opinions were deemed inadequate due to a lack of consideration of the Veteran's contentions. Therefore, another examination by an orthopedist is needed.

The Veteran's claim for an increased rating for his service-connected posttraumatic degenerative disc disease of L5-S1 with S1 radiculopathy is being remanded due to the need for a new VA examination to assess the current level of disability.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including a VA examination to determine the nature and severity of his service-connected degenerative joint disease of multiple joints (including cervical and thoracolumbar spines) and eczema. The case will be readjudicated after these actions.

The Veteran's disability of the thoracic spine has been manifested by limitation of motion to 70 degrees with pain and muscle spasms, resulting in an abnormal gait and spinal contour. However, limitation of motion to 30 degrees or less, favorable ankylosis of the thoracolumbar spine, or incapacitating episodes with a total duration of more than four weeks have not been shown.

The Board has reopened the claims of service connection for left shoulder, right shoulder, cervical spine, and low back disabilities. The Veteran's current conditions are related to a car accident during military service.,The Board has not reopened the claims of service connection for left knee disability and Crohn's disease. The evidence submitted does not relate these conditions to service.

The Veteran's low back disability was evaluated at a 10 percent rating prior to November 20, 2009 and has not met the criteria for an increased evaluation.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's claim cannot be decided without additional development and requests further action from the RO.