Back / lumbar spine decisions — 2013

The Veteran withdrew his appeals for reopening the claims of service connection for a back disorder and right knee disorder, to include as secondary to peripheral neuropathy.

The Board has determined that the July 2008 VA examination is inadequate and requires a new examination to determine if the Veteran's current lumbar spine and bilateral foot disabilities are etiologically related to his active service. The appeal will be remanded for further development.

The Board has reopened the Veteran's claim for service connection of a right shoulder disability secondary to his service-connected left knee disability. The Veteran is granted a 20 percent rating for each knee disability, with limitations in motion and instability.

The Veteran's claim for an increased rating for his service-connected back disability is being remanded due to the need for a VA examination and consideration of all relevant evidence.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's claim for service connection for a back disability and bilateral hip disability should be remanded to allow for additional development, including obtaining medical records and attempting to obtain all available service treatment records.

The Board has determined that further development is needed, including obtaining Army Reserve service records and VA treatment records. A new VA examination will also be scheduled to determine the nature and etiology of any current low back disorder.

The Board found that the Veteran's lumbar spine disability was not incurred in service and arthritis did not become manifest within one year of service separation. The Board concluded that there is no evidence linking these conditions to service.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for a Travel Board hearing due to his inability to appear at the scheduled August 2012 travel board hearing.

The Board has granted service connection for a low back disorder and a groin disorder, finding that both conditions originated during active service.

The Veteran seeks service connection for cervical and lumbar spine disorders, alleging in-service trauma. The case is being remanded to obtain a medical opinion regarding the etiology of his current spinal conditions.

The Board has reopened the claim for service connection for a lumbar disorder, but additional medical examination is needed to clarify the etiology of any current low back disability. The issue of an increased rating for residuals of a herniated nucleus pulposus at T7-8 with neuralgia remains inextricably intertwined with the newly raised issue of service connection for ankylosing spondylitis of the lower thoracic spine.

The Veteran's low back disability was rated at 40 percent effective September 6, 2011. The rating is based on the current severity of his condition.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not result in loss of use of a lower extremity, and therefore he does not meet the criteria for specially adapted housing assistance.

The Board has remanded the case due to inadequate medical examination and new evidence is needed for a determination on service connection for a low back disorder.

The Board has remanded the case for further development, including obtaining medical records and attempting to obtain SSA disability benefits records. The Veteran's claim for a higher rating for his lumbosacral strain is being remanded for an additional VA examination.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's lumbar spine and right knee disabilities are not related to service, arthritis did not manifest within one year of service, and they were not caused or aggravated by a service-connected disability.

The Board found that the Veteran's low back and right knee disorders did not have their onset in service or are otherwise related to his active service. The evidence does not support a finding of direct service connection for these conditions.

The Board found no evidence to support service connection for the Veteran's low back disability, concluding that there was no in-service injury or disease related to his current condition. The PTSD claim was also denied as the Veteran did not meet the criteria for an evaluation in excess of 70 percent.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for low back pain was denied as there is no evidence of a chronic low back disorder in service or at any time thereafter. The claims for initial compensable ratings for right and left shin splints were also denied due to the lack of range of motion findings.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for various conditions, including bilateral hearing loss, a back disability, skin disorder, hernia condition, desmoid tumor condition, rectal cancer with proctoctolectomy, and left arm/shoulder disorder. The decision is based on the presumption of exposure to herbicides in Vietnam.