Back / lumbar spine decisions — 2011

The Board has denied the Veteran's request to reopen his claim of service connection for low back disability, finding that new and material evidence has not been received since the July 1976 rating decision.

The Veteran's claims for TDIU and DEA benefits were granted effective May 7, 2008. The Board found no basis to grant an earlier effective date.

The Board has reopened the Veteran's claim for service connection for a back disorder, to include degenerative disc disease. The evidence shows that the Veteran had chronic back pain during and after his military service, which was diagnosed as degenerative disc disease. A VA examiner opined that this condition is not related to service.

The Veteran's low back disability is not shown to meet the criteria for a rating in excess of 20 percent, and his right lower extremity radiculopathy does not result in impairment greater than mild incomplete paralysis. As such, the claims are denied.

The Veteran's service-connected degenerative disc disease lumbar spine with radiating pain, right leg, is currently rated at 10 percent and does not meet the criteria for a higher rating. The Veteran's tension-type headaches are also rated at 10 percent but do not warrant an increased rating.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claim of service connection for a low back disability due to additional development needs.

The Board has granted service connection for a low back disorder, but denied service connection for cervical spine arthritis and hypertension.

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

The Board found that the Veteran's current cervical spine disorder is not related to his military service and denied his claim for service connection.

The Board denied service connection for a back condition and an acquired psychiatric disorder, other than PTSD.

The Veteran's service-connected cervical spine DDD has been rated at 20 percent since its initial grant of service connection. The RO increased the rating to 30 percent, effective from April 19, 2004.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for separate ratings for any neurological disorder(s) associated with his service-connected lumbar spine disability and denied entitlement to service connection for peripheral neuropathy of the right lower extremity, finding that there is no evidence linking these conditions to his service or a service-connected disability.

The Veteran's lumbar spine disability has been rated at 10 percent since December 6, 2007. The Board found that the evidence does not support a higher rating based on current functional impairment or incapacitating episodes.

The Veteran's service-connected low back disability is currently evaluated at 40 percent, and the Board has determined that this rating is not higher. The claim for TDIU was also denied.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining medical records and scheduling a VA examination to assess the severity of his service-connected low back disability.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded due to the need for additional examinations and evaluations of his lumbosacral strain and tinea versicolor.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims due to insufficient evidence regarding the etiology of his claimed conditions, including an acquired psychiatric disorder, a lumbar spine disorder, and HIV. The Veteran is required to undergo VA examinations to determine the nature and origin of these conditions.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded due to scheduling issues for a videoconference hearing. Service connection and increased evaluation claims are pending.

The Board has remanded the case due to missing records from Fairbanks Memorial Hospital and other treatment records, which may be relevant to the Veteran's claims for service connection.

The Veteran's claim for an increased rating for his lumbosacral spine compression fracture is being remanded due to the need for a new VA examination and additional medical records.