Back / lumbar spine decisions — 2012

The Board has determined that additional development is needed to properly adjudicate the Veteran's claims, including obtaining medical opinions and records.

The Veteran's claims of entitlement to service connection for various conditions, including bilateral upper extremity and left lower extremity numbness, were denied. The Board found that there was no competent evidence of a current disability related to these conditions.

The Veteran's claim for an increased rating for her service-connected cervical spine disability was denied, and the Board found that a rating in excess of 10 percent is not warranted. The issue of service connection for a neurological disability of the upper and lower extremities remains pending.

The Board has reopened the claims of service connection for a bilateral knee disability, low back strain, and neck disability. However, further development is needed to determine if these conditions are related to service.

The Veteran's service-connected lumbar spine disability does not prevent him from securing or following a substantially gainful occupation, and he is therefore not entitled to a TDIU.

The Board found that the Veteran's low back disability is not service-connected, as there was no evidence of a nexus between her current condition and her period of military service. The VA examiner opined that her current low back disability is more likely related to a post-service employment injury in 1986.

The Veteran is seeking an increased disability rating for his service-connected back disability, currently rated at 10 percent. The Board has determined that the Veteran's testimony of worsening symptoms since the last examination warrants a remand to schedule him for a VA examination.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims of service connection for bilateral hearing loss, left shoulder disability, and left foot disability as new and material evidence was not received. The claim of service connection for sleep apnea is also denied.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development to determine if he is unemployable due to his service-connected disabilities, including coronary artery disease.

The Board has granted service connection for a lumbar spine disability, bilateral hand disability, and bilateral shoulder disability. Service connection for hypertension was also granted. The Veteran's PTSD symptoms have been rated based on their severity.

The Board found that the Veteran's left hip and lumbar spine disorders are not proximately due to or aggravated by his service-connected bilateral knee disabilities, thus denying both claims.

The Board found that the Veteran's current low back disability is not related to his service and denied his claim for service connection.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded due to the need for a new Board hearing.

The Veteran's claim for a total disability evaluation based on individual unemployability due to service-connected disorders was denied because she failed to report for a necessary VA examination without providing good cause.

The Board has decided to remand the case for additional development, including obtaining updated VA treatment records and determining if the Veteran applied for or completed VA vocational rehabilitation. The Veteran will also be scheduled for a VA examination to assess the severity of his low back disability.

The Veteran's appeal for a higher rating for his low back disability has been dismissed as he expressed complete satisfaction with the current rating of 40 percent.

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

The Veteran's claims for service connection for right and left knee disabilities, as well as a lumbar spine disability, were denied. The Board found no current diagnoses of these conditions in the medical records provided.

The Board finds that new evidence submitted since the final March 1995 rating decision does not establish a current low back disability or link it to service. The Veteran's subjective complaints of pain were not supported by objective medical findings during service, and his current condition is attributed to an injury after he left service.

The Veteran's claims of service connection for arthritis, back disorder, disability exhibited by difficulty breathing and vision impairment were denied as there is no evidence to support the presence or onset of these conditions during his active duty.