Back / lumbar spine decisions — 2011

The Veteran's claims for service connection for various conditions were denied. The Board found that the right knee and left knee disabilities, as well as hypertension, are not related to his military service.

The Board has ordered the VA to obtain all relevant medical records, including those from the AHEC Family Practice Clinic and the Memphis VAMC. The case will be remanded for further action.

The Veteran's claims for service connection were denied. The Board found that new and material evidence was not submitted to reopen the previously denied claims of headaches and diabetes mellitus, type II.

The Veteran's low back disability and bilateral hearing loss are not service-connected.,Service connection for degenerative joint disease of the left ankle was granted, but an initial evaluation in excess of 10 percent is denied.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded due to the need for additional examinations and development of his claims, including a claim for service connection for depression secondary to his service-connected low back disability.

The Board has determined that additional medical opinions are needed to determine the etiology of the Veteran's lumbar spine, hip, and knee disabilities. The case is therefore REMANDED for further development.

The Veteran's claims for service connection and increased evaluation have been REMANDED due to the need for additional development, including VA examinations and obtaining private treatment records.

The Veteran's service-connected low back disability was evaluated at a 40 percent rating, effective March 29, 2005. The appeal for an increased rating remains before the Board.

The Board has reopened the claim for service connection for degenerative disc disease of the lumbar spine and granted it. The lung disability manifested by COPD is not considered due to service connection.

The Veteran's claim for an increased rating for lumbar disc disease and degenerative arthritis status post hemilaminectomy was denied. The Board also found that the criteria for an earlier effective date prior to October 28, 2008 for a 10 percent rating for migraines were not met.

The Veteran's claim for increased ratings for lumbosacral strain is being remanded to the RO for further development and consideration of newly submitted evidence.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development due to untranslated documents and other issues.

The Veteran's low back condition is rated at 20 percent, effective September 21, 2009. His left lower extremity peripheral neuropathy is also rated at 10 percent, effective September 21, 2009. The Board has granted the Veteran a higher rating for his low back condition and left lower extremity peripheral neuropathy.

The Veteran's spouse seeks an extension of the delimiting date for her DEA benefits, but the Board finds that she does not meet the criteria for such an extension.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for low back and neck disabilities due to a lack of an adequate rationale in the previous VA examination, requiring further development including obtaining medical records and scheduling another VA examination.

The Board has remanded the case due to the Veteran's request for a videoconference hearing at the RO.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for right knee and lumbar spine disabilities were denied because he failed to appear for a scheduled VA examination without good cause, which is necessary to establish these conditions.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for increased ratings for his service-connected compression fractures of L2, L3, and L4-5 with degenerative disc disease. The evaluation was initially set at 30 percent prior to April 1, 2005, and later raised to 40 percent thereafter.

The Board has determined that the Veteran does not have a bilateral hip disability or low back disability due to service. The evidence does not support a finding of service connection for these conditions.

The Board denied service connection for migraine headaches, bipolar disorder, and residuals of a fractured left wrist. The claim for reopening the low back pain was also denied.