Back / lumbar spine decisions — 2011

The Board has determined that the Veteran's lumbar spine disorder, claimed as residuals of status post lumbar discectomy and laminectomy at L4-L5 and L5-S1, was not incurred in or aggravated by service. The evidence does not establish a nexus between his current disability and his active duty.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded to the RO for scheduling a video conference hearing at the RO with a member of the Board.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's low back disability and bilateral hand disability (excluding her right fifth finger) were not incurred or aggravated during active service.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for a low back disability on a secondary basis and entitlement to a total disability rating based on individual unemployability due to service-connected disabilities. The case is being remanded for further development, including obtaining medical opinions regarding the etiology of the low back disorder and its impact on employment.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's lower back disorder is not related to his service and therefore denied his claim for service connection.

The Board has ordered a remand to obtain an updated VA examination and opinion regarding the Veteran's ability to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation due to her service-connected back disability and psychiatric disabilities. The case will be returned for further adjudication.

The Board has remanded the case due to the need for additional medical examinations and opinions regarding whether the Veteran's current psychiatric and back disabilities are related to service.

The Board has remanded the case due to the need for additional development, including obtaining medical records and scheduling a VA examination.

The Board has remanded the claim for service connection of upper extremity peripheral neuropathy. The remaining claims, including hyperlipidemia, monoclonal gammopathy, low back disorder, and hypertension, are denied as they do not meet the criteria for service connection.

The Veteran's lumbar spine disability was found to be aggravated by his service-connected bilateral knee disabilities, and the effective date for this service connection is set at February 28, 2008.

The Board has granted service connection for avascular necrosis/trochanteric bursitis of the right hip, degenerative osteoarthritis of the right knee, and discogenic changes of the lumbar spine as secondary to the Veteran's service-connected left knee disability.

The Veteran withdrew his claims for service connection and increased disability rating.

The Veteran's service-connected lumbar degenerative disc and joint disease is currently rated at 10 percent, but the Board finds that it does not meet the criteria for a higher rating based on current symptomatology.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded due to the need for additional medical records and examinations. The case will be returned to the Board if further action is required.

The Board has reopened the Veteran's claim for service connection for a back condition and has determined that there is sufficient evidence to establish service connection based on direct causation.

The Board has determined that the evidence received since the August 2004 RO decision is not new and material, thus denying the Veteran's request to reopen his claim for service connection for a back disability.

The Board has granted an effective date of October 1, 2003 for the addition of the Veteran's second spouse and stepdaughter as dependents. The Veteran and his wife presented credible evidence that they notified VA of their change in dependency status in September 2003.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for hypertension, lumbar spine disorder (claimed as arthritis), and cardiovascular disease. The denial was based on a lack of evidence showing these conditions were incurred in or related to his period of active duty.

The Veteran's chronic sprain of the sacroiliac joint, status-post fusion, is granted service connection. Service connection for degenerative disc disease of the lumbar spine is denied.

The Veteran withdrew the appeal of his claims for increased evaluations for lumbosacral spine strain and traumatic brain injury prior to a decision being made.