Back / lumbar spine Board decisions

The Board has determined that the Veteran's claim for service connection for a back disorder, secondary to his service-connected right ankle sprain, cannot be reopened as new and material evidence has not been received. The claims for bilateral foot, hip, and knee disorders have also been denied.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for left ring finger, left shoulder, right knee, and left knee conditions have been denied.,Service connection was granted for a left wrist condition (rated as 10 percent disabling), GERD (rated as 10 percent disabling), lumbosacral strain (rated as 10 percent disabling), and left ear hearing loss (rated as 10 percent disabling).

The Board has determined that the Veteran's current low back disability, diagnosed as neuritis, radiculitis, intervertebral disc syndrome, arthritis, and lumbosacral sprain and strain, is related to his military service. As such, service connection for this condition is granted.

The appeal is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining medical records and scheduling the Veteran for examinations to address his service connection claims.

The Veteran is granted service connection for stroke residuals and entitlement to SMC at the highest level based on need for aid and attendance due to his service-connected PTSD, lumbar spine disability, and other conditions.

The Veteran's low back disability is service-connected as a direct result of an in-service injury. The right knee disability was not found to be related to the service-connected right ankle disability.

The Board has ordered the RO to obtain additional private treatment records from Dr. Reginald Stewart and the Mississippi Orthopaedic Institute, as well as to obtain new nexus opinions. The appeal will be readjudicated based on all of the evidence of record.

The Veteran's thoracolumbar disability was not found to warrant initial ratings in excess of the assigned 0 percent prior to January 31, 2008 and a compensable rating for his bilateral eye disability.

The Board has reopened the claim of service connection for residuals of a back injury due to new evidence. The remaining claims are remanded for further development.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's low back disability, including degenerative disc disease, spondylosis, and lumbar disc herniation with sciatica, is proximately due to his service-connected bilateral iliotibial band syndrome of the knees.

The Board found that the Veteran's claim for an earlier effective date for a 10% rating for his low back condition was granted, with the effective date set at May 21, 1979.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded to provide her with a Board video conference hearing on the issues of service connection for various conditions and increased ratings.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for further development and consideration of his claims, including obtaining medical records and employment information.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining VA treatment records and conducting examinations to assess the severity of his service-connected disabilities.

The Veteran's petitions to reopen previously denied claims for service connection have been considered. The appeals are currently in the denial stage.

The Veteran's lumbar spine disability is currently rated at the maximum allowable under the General Rating Formula for Diseases and Injuries of the Spine, with no higher rating warranted based on his limited range of motion. He also has radiculopathy in both lower extremities which warrants separate ratings.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for a back disability was granted with an effective date of May 2, 1995. This corresponds to the date he filed his original claim within one year of separation from active duty.

The Veteran's appeal has been withdrawn, and the case is dismissed.

The claims for service connection for degenerative disc disease of the cervical spine, shoulder disorders, hearing loss, tinnitus, loss of balance and vertigo, chest pain, heart dysrhythmia, and blood clots and phlebitis were denied. The claim for a total rating based on individual unemployability was also denied.

The Veteran does not have any additional disabilities as a result of the March 2006 VA medical treatment, and there is no evidence that such treatment was caused by carelessness, negligence, or lack of proper skill on the part of VA.