Back / lumbar spine decisions — 2012

The Board has determined that the Veteran's current back disability is not related to his military service, and thus denied his claim for service connection.

The Board denied reopening the claim for service connection of a low back disorder due to lack of new and material evidence.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for a lumbar spine disability has been reopened. His claim for service connection for a dental disability remains denied as there is no evidence of exposure to herbicide agents or nerve gas that could have caused his current condition.

The Veteran's appeal has been withdrawn due to his request for a hearing and subsequent statement indicating he had received all of his VA benefits.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded to obtain additional records, provide a VA examination for all claimed conditions, and determine the nature and etiology of each condition.

The Veteran's claims for initial compensable evaluations for his service-connected left knee fracture, chronic left quadriceps muscle strain, and chronic lumbosacral spine strain are being remanded due to the need for additional development including a VA examination.

The Veteran's lumbar spine disability has been evaluated at a 20% rating since July 1, 1997. The Board finds that the evidence does not support an evaluation in excess of 20 percent for this period.

The Board has remanded the case for further development, including obtaining VA medical records and scheduling a VA examination to determine if the Veteran's current bilateral foot disorder, bilateral knee disorder, and low back disorder are related to his active service.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for increased ratings and service connection, finding no evidence of right leg numbness, bilateral hip disability, or low back disability due to active service. The Veteran's right ear hearing loss was rated as noncompensable.

The Board has found that the Veteran's cervical spine disorder, including degenerative disc disease, is related to his service aboard diesel-electric submarines where he sustained numerous traumatic incidents. The claim for service connection is granted.

The Board has remanded the case for further development to verify the appellant's National Guard service and obtain his medical records. The issues of entitlement to service connection for various disabilities remain pending.

The Board has determined that additional evidence is needed to fully and fairly consider the Veteran's claims, including obtaining treatment records and a VA examination.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claim for additional development, including obtaining missing service treatment records and scheduling a VA spine examination.

The Veteran's claim for service connection of cervical spine DDD and LUE radiculopathy was denied in August 1994, but she did not appeal. The claim was reopened on September 30, 2002, resulting in a grant of service connection with an effective date from that day.

The Veteran's degenerative changes of the lumbar spine are currently rated at 40 percent since September 8, 2010. The Board found that these symptoms do not warrant a higher rating based on current medical evidence.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's back disability was incurred during service and is not a new condition that developed after service. Therefore, service connection for the back disability is granted.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's degenerative disc disease of the lumbar spine had its onset during her period of service and is therefore granted service connection.

The Board denied the Veteran's increased rating claim for his lumbar spine disability, finding that it did not meet the criteria for a higher rating based on the evidence of record.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for a low back disability is being remanded due to outstanding treatment records that have not been secured.

The Board has ordered the case remanded again due to inadequate examination reports. The Veteran's claim for service connection for a back disability is being reviewed with an emphasis on continuity of symptomatology and etiology.