Back / lumbar spine decisions — 2011

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including obtaining private medical records and scheduling a VA examination. The Veteran's claim for service connection for his low back disability will be reconsidered based on the new evidence.

The Board has remanded the claims for an effective date before January 12, 2000 for a 60% rating for lumbosacral strain with degenerative joint disease and for service connection of depression.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including obtaining medical records and scheduling VA examinations to determine if the Veteran currently has diabetic retinopathy secondary to his service-connected diabetes mellitus, Type II, and whether he has a current back disorder that was caused or aggravated by his period of active military service.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's current low back disorder is related to an in-service motor vehicle accident, and service connection for this condition is granted.

The Board has determined that new and material evidence has not been received to reopen the Veteran's claims of service connection for lumbar spine disability, to include arthritis, and cervical spine disability, to include osteoarthritis.

The Board has decided to remand the Veteran's claims for further development due to incomplete service records and need for additional examinations.

The Board denied service connection for the Veteran's claimed conditions, including papillomas of the vocal cord, low back disability, and injuries to his heels and ankles. The Board found no current disabilities related to these claims.

The Board has determined that new and material evidence has not been received sufficient to reopen the previously denied claim for service connection of degenerative arthritis or disc disease of the lumbar spine. The Veteran's current low back disability is more likely related to normal wear and tear of the spine, rather than his active duty.

The Board has remanded the case for further development, including a VA examination to address the issue of secondary service connection for neurological manifestations in the left upper extremity.

The Board found that the Veteran's current low back and cervical spine disabilities are not related to an in-service right buttock contusion, thus denying service connection for these conditions.

The Veteran's low back disability is currently rated at 20 percent, and the Board found that it does not warrant a higher rating based on the current evidence of record.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's low back disorder did not have its onset in service or within one year thereafter, and is therefore denied service connection.

The Board has remanded the case for further development, including obtaining service treatment records and scheduling a VA examination to determine if the Veteran's current back disorder is related to his military service.

The Board has determined that the Veteran does not have a current hearing loss disability, left knee disorder, or low back disorder that is etiologically related to service. The evidence shows no in-service hearing loss and only mild sensorineural hearing loss at 4000 Hz in the right ear post-service. The left knee disorder was noted pre-service but did not result from service. The low back disorder does not appear to be related to service.

The Veteran's currently diagnosed degenerative disc disease/degenerative joint disease with L5-S1 right radiculopathy was incurred in military service and granted as direct service connection.

The Veteran's appeal for service connection for a back disorder has been dismissed due to his death.

The Veteran's claims to reopen his service connection for diabetes mellitus, flat feet, and low back injury are being remanded due to the need for a video conference hearing.

The VA determined that the evidence does not show a limited range of motion such that the Veteran's forward flexion is greater than 30 degrees but less than 60 degrees or that the combined range of motion of the thoracolumbar spine is not greater than 120 degrees. Therefore, a rating in excess of 10 percent for low back strain is denied.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded to obtain additional medical records and a VA examination to determine the likely etiology of his current low back, hip, and pelvic area disabilities.

The Board has reopened the Veteran's claim for service connection for a back disability and finds that new and material evidence has been received. The case is now remanded to the RO for further development on the merits.