Back / lumbar spine decisions — 2011

The Board has determined that the Veteran's low back disorder is not etiologically related to his active service, and thus denied his claim for service connection.

The Board has determined that there is no credible evidence linking the Veteran's current low back disorder or acquired psychiatric disorder to his active service, and thus denied both claims.

The Board has remanded the case to the RO for further development, including a VA examination and opinion regarding the Veteran's ability to work due to his service-connected disabilities. The TDIU claim is being returned to the Board for review after additional evidence is obtained.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claim due to the need for additional evidence and a retrospective medical examination to determine if S.R.C., the Veteran's son, was permanently incapable of self-support at age 18.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's service-connected low back strain does not warrant an evaluation in excess of 20 percent. The claims for cold injury residuals of the left and right hands have been denied as there is no evidence to support a finding of service connection.

The Veteran's lumbosacral muscular strain is currently evaluated at a 20 percent rating due to forward flexion limited between 50 and 65 degrees, which does not meet the criteria for higher ratings based on limitation of motion or unfavorable ankylosis.

The Veteran's spondylosis of the lumbar spine with degenerative disc disease and radiculopathy involving the right lower extremity are evaluated at a 20 percent rating.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claim for TDIU. The case is being remanded to consider new evidence and address inextricably intertwined claims, including a claim for an increased rating for service-connected low back strain.

The Veteran's claims for increased evaluations for his service-connected lumbosacral strain were denied by the Board. Prior to October 1, 2010, he was not entitled to a rating in excess of 10 percent. Since October 1, 2010, he is not entitled to a rating in excess of 20 percent.

The Board has remanded the case due to inadequate examination and new evidence, requiring further development.

The Board has determined that the Veteran does not currently suffer from a lumbar spine or right hip disorder, and thus service connection for these conditions is denied.

The Board found that the service-connected disabilities did not substantially or materially contribute to the Veteran's death, which was caused by a spinal cord stroke.

The Board has remanded this issue to the RO for further evidentiary development due to inadequate opinion regarding left lower extremity radiculopathy.

The Board has ordered a VA examination to determine the etiology of the Veteran's back pain. The current medical opinion is inadequate, and an addendum opinion should be requested from the VA examiner who performed the January 2010 VA examination.

The Board found that the Veteran's hearing loss was not incurred in service and denied his claim for service connection. The back disorder issue is remanded due to a need for additional development.

The Board has ordered the RO to attempt to obtain service treatment records and documentation of periods of Active Duty for Training (ACDUTRA) or Inactive duty for Training (INACDUTRA). The Veteran's appeal will be remanded for further development.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development of his claims, including obtaining medical records and SSA records. The VA will then re-evaluate the claims based on the new evidence.

The Board has remanded the case due to the need for a VA examination and consideration of additional evidence.

The Board has reopened the appellant's claim for service connection of a low back disorder and granted it, finding that new evidence submitted since the July 2005 rating decision raises a reasonable possibility of substantiating her claim.

The Board has remanded the claims due to incomplete records and inadequate examination reports, requiring further development.