Back / lumbar spine decisions — 2012

The Veteran's service-connected conditions, including degenerative joint disease of the lumbar spine and right acetabulum fracture residuals, are found to be sufficiently severe to preclude him from all forms of substantially gainful employment.

The Board found that any low back and right hip disorders are not related to service or a disease/injury of service origin.

The Veteran's claim for an increased disability rating for her service-connected low back disability prior to October 7, 2011 was denied as the evidence did not meet the criteria for a higher initial disability rating. From October 7, 2011, the criteria were also not met for a higher initial disability rating.

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

The Board has reopened the Veteran's claim of entitlement to service connection for a lumbar spine disability due to new and material evidence. Further development is required before the Board can adjudicate this claim on its merits.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded to schedule a Travel Board hearing due to the failure to provide him with a scheduled personal hearing.

The Veteran's low back disorder is not service-connected, and the Board finds that he does not meet the criteria for TDIU benefits based on his service-connected disabilities. The effective date of service connection remains unchanged.

The Veteran's appeal has been withdrawn by his representative, and the Board is dismissing the case.

The Board is remanding the case to provide the Veteran with proper notice regarding his claims to reopen service connection for a back disability and varicose veins of the right thigh, as well as to address the underlying merits of these claims.

The Veteran's service-connected transitional lumbosacral vertebra with bilateral spondylolysis at L5 is currently rated as 20 percent disabling. The Board finds that the evidence does not support a higher rating, and thus grants the claim for an increased rating.

The Veteran's thoracolumbar spine disability is rated at 40 percent effective May 6, 2009. The appeal for a higher evaluation remains pending.

The Board has determined that the Veteran does not have a diagnosed psychiatric disability, including PTSD. The low back disability is also denied as there is no evidence of service connection or aggravation of a pre-existing condition.

The Board has reopened the claim but denied service connection for a low back disability as there is no evidence of an in-service injury or chronic condition, and the current disability is not related to service.

The Board found that the current low back disability is not related to service, including a motor bike accident in 1965 and a motor vehicle accident in 1969. The Veteran's claim for service connection was denied.

The Board has determined that additional development is needed to fully and fairly consider the Veteran's claims for service connection for mid-back, low-back disorders, headaches, and insomnia.

The Board has determined that further development is needed to determine the etiology of the Veteran's lower back disorder and whether it is related to service. The case is therefore REMANDED for additional development.

The Board has granted service connection for the Veteran's lumbar spine and bilateral hip/pelvis disorders, finding that these conditions are related to his military service.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development due to insufficient evidence regarding the Veteran's back disability.

The Veteran's hip and back disorders are being remanded for further examination to determine if they are related to his service-connected left foot disability.

The Board found that the Veteran's low back disability was not incurred in or aggravated by service and arthritis may not be presumed to have been incurred therein. The claims for varicose veins of the right lower extremities and PVD, whether new and material evidence has been submitted to reopen the claim of service connection for an inguinal hernia, and initial ratings for depressive disorder were denied.