Back / lumbar spine decisions — 2011

The Board has remanded the case due to inadequate examination and development of records. The Veteran's claims for service connection are pending.

The Board found that the Veteran's bilateral flat feet had its clinical onset during his period of active service and granted service connection for this condition.

The Veteran's claims for an initial compensable rating for bilateral hearing loss, service connection for degenerative changes of the lumbar spine and cervical spine, C5-6, and service connection for fibromyalgia, diffuse idiopathic skeletal hyperostosis, and arthritis of the shoulders, knees, and wrists were denied. The Veteran did not meet the criteria for a compensable rating under the applicable VA rating schedule.

The Board has remanded the case for further development, including a VA examination to determine if any current low back disability is related to service. The Veteran's claim will be reconsidered based on the additional evidence.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for residuals of a low back injury, right wrist disability, and rotary cuff joint pain. The evidence did not support a finding that any current disabilities were related to military service.

The Veteran's low back strain, left knee strain with internal derangement, and left ankle sprain have been granted service connection. The initial evaluations for the left knee strain and left ankle sprain are increased to 10 percent.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims of service connection for low back and bilateral hip disabilities due to lack of a current diagnosis. The case is now pending for further development.

The Veteran's back disability was granted a 20 percent rating, and noncompensable ratings were assigned for his left and right foot mallet toes. The initial 20 percent rating for the back disability has been increased to 40 percent effective November 25, 2009.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for a back disability is being remanded due to the need for additional medical examination and consideration of his lay testimony regarding his symptomatology during and since service.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for a lumbar spine disability and cervical spine disability, finding that new and material evidence had not been submitted to reopen the claim for a lumbar spine disability and that his current cervical spine disability was not incurred in or aggravated by his active service.

The Board has granted the Veteran's claim to reopen his service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, but dismissed his appeals regarding back and lip disorders due to lack of evidence.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded due to incomplete service records and the need for further examination regarding his hearing loss, tinnitus, and potential service connection claims.

The Board has remanded the case due to new evidence and a need for further development of the record, including obtaining medical records and an orthopedic examination.

The Veteran's degenerative disc disease and degenerative joint disease of the lumbar spine were incurred in service and have been causally related to service.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development to determine his eligibility for TDIU and special monthly compensation based on the need for aid and attendance or by reason of being housebound.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded for a VA examination to determine the current severity of his lumbar disc disease with scoliosis and degenerative changes, as well as whether he has sciatica. The TDIU claim will also be considered.

The Veteran's service-connected cervical DDD is currently rated at 10 percent, and the evidence does not support a higher rating based on current disability levels.

The Board has determined that a VA examination is necessary to adjudicate the claim for service connection of a low back disorder, and the case is being remanded for this purpose.

The Veteran's low back disability is found to be related to an injury sustained during service, and the claim for service connection is granted.

The Veteran's low back disorder is being remanded for further development, including a VA examination to determine if it is at least as likely as not caused or aggravated by his service-connected PTSD.