Back / lumbar spine decisions — 2011

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining VA and SSA records, scheduling examinations, and readjudicating the issues on appeal.

The Board finds that the Veteran does not have a current low back disability or hemorrhoids, and therefore service connection for these conditions is denied.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for further development of the record, including obtaining SSA records and private medical records.

The Veteran's service-connected degenerative disc disease of the lumbar spine is currently rated at 10 percent, and the Board finds that this rating adequately reflects the severity of his disability.

The Board denied service connection for a back disability in January 2008, and the Veteran's appeal was not reopened. The current claim seeks to reopen this previously denied claim.

The Veteran's sinusitis is related to her military service and has been granted service connection.

The Veteran's service-connected lumbar spine disability has been manifested by symptoms of pain, as well as flexion limited to 50 degrees. The criteria for an initial disability rating in excess of 20 percent have not been met.

The Board found that the Veteran's back condition is not related to his active duty service and denied his claim for service connection.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for further development of the record, including obtaining pertinent medical records and arranging for an examination to determine the etiology of his claimed bilateral hip and low back disabilities.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's notice of disagreement with the August 2006 rating decision denying service connection for bilateral knee conditions was not timely filed, and thus the appeal is dismissed.

The Board has remanded the claims for additional development due to incomplete medical records and lack of information regarding the Veteran's January 1987 motor vehicle accident.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded due to the need for additional development, including obtaining medical records and scheduling VA examinations.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for right leg, right knee, right hip, and low back disabilities are being remanded due to the need to obtain additional VA treatment records and Social Security Administration (SSA) records.

The Veteran's lumbar spine disability is rated at 40 percent since May 24, 2005. From August 26, 2010, to the present, a higher rating is not warranted.

The Veteran's lumbar spine strain has been rated at 10 percent, but the Board found that his symptoms do not warrant a higher rating under the General Rating Formula for Diseases and Injuries of the Spine. The left ankle sprain and bilateral ingrown toenails have both been rated at 10 percent.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings and TDIU were denied. The Board found that the AMC/RO did not consider whether extra-schedular consideration was warranted, did not reconcile conflicting medical opinions regarding limitation of motion, and failed to obtain SSA records and treatment records from Fort Rucker and Federal agencies.

The Veteran's lumbar spine disability was evaluated as 60 percent disabling effective September 23, 2002.

The Board denied service connection for degenerative disc disease of the cervical spine and radiculopathy of the upper extremities, finding no evidence of a nexus to service.

The Veteran's service-connected lumbosacral strain with degenerative disc disease is currently rated at 40 percent, and the Board finds that this rating adequately reflects his disability level.

The Veteran's petition to reopen service connection for a left hip disability has been granted. The underlying claim on the merits, as well as the issue of service connection for a right hip disability, are addressed in the REMAND portion of this decision.,Service connection for a bilateral ankle disability remains denied.