Back / lumbar spine decisions — 2014

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for a low back disability, finding that there was no credible evidence linking his current degenerative disc disease to service or an in-service injury.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including his anxiety with depression and multiple musculoskeletal conditions, have resulted in a combined disability rating of 100 percent. The Veteran is eligible for financial assistance to acquire an automobile or adaptive equipment due to the severity of his service-connected conditions.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for neck and low back injuries are being remanded due to the need for additional development, including obtaining service records, Social Security Administration records, and a VA examination.

The RO has proposed to sever service connection for the right knee, left knee (secondary), low back disability, and left hip strain. The Veteran's appeal of this proposal was denied in a November 2007 rating decision.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded due to missing service treatment records and unobtained Social Security Administration (SSA) records. The RO/AMC will also attempt to schedule a hearing for the Veteran at a VA facility closer to her home.

The Board found that the Veteran's current back and right elbow disabilities were not incurred or aggravated by service, and denied his claims for service connection.

The Board has found that new and material evidence sufficient to reopen the Veteran's claim of entitlement to service connection for a low back disability has been submitted. The case is REMANDED for further evidentiary development, including a VA spine examination.

The Board has reopened the Veteran's claim for service connection for a low back disability and granted it, finding that new and material evidence had been received. The issue of assigning a rating or effective date is remanded.

The Veteran's appeal involves multiple issues including service connection for a left hip disorder, rating of lumbar spine degenerative disc disease and chronic L5 radiculopathy, and effective date determination. The case is being remanded to obtain additional medical opinions and consider the appropriate rating criteria.

The Board has ordered a remand to obtain the Veteran's complete VA treatment records from the Bay Pines VAMC and all associated outpatient clinics dated from May 2008 to the present. The claims will be readjudicated after receiving these records.

The Board has remanded the case for further development, including obtaining VA and private clinical documentation related to the Veteran's low back disorder. The Veteran will also be scheduled for a VA orthopedic examination to determine if his current low back condition is related to service or aggravated by service.

The Veteran's appeals for increased ratings on his left knee arthrofibrosis with instability, mechanical low back pain with ankylosing spondylitis, and post-traumatic arthritis have been withdrawn.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including obtaining medical records and providing a supplemental opinion on the etiology of the Veteran's claimed conditions.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for a back disability, tinnitus, right ear hearing loss, left ear hearing loss, and calluses of the left foot. The preponderance of evidence does not support a finding that these conditions are related to military service.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims due to insufficient medical evidence and a need for further examination.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining VA and private treatment records, as well as a new examination to assess the severity of his service-connected lumbar spine disability. The case will also be adjudicated again after all requested information has been obtained.

The Veteran's service connection claims for degenerative joint disease, PTSD, and left great toe disability were denied. The Board found that the arthritis was not incurred in or aggravated by service, while the PTSD and left great toe disability met the criteria for a 50% rating before October 28, 2010.

The Board has granted the Veteran's claim of service connection for a low back condition, finding that it is related to his service-connected right knee injury and current complete tear of the Anterior Cruciate Ligament (ACL).

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including a new VA examination and medical opinion to address the nature and severity of the Veteran's lumbar spine disability and whether he currently has any neurological manifestations. The claims will be considered on their merits after this additional development.

The Veteran's low back disability is rated at 40 percent since March 26, 2010. The PTSD has been rated from 30 to 70 percent over the course of the appeal.,PTSD ratings have changed multiple times and are now higher than initially requested.