Back / lumbar spine Board decisions

The Board has granted service connection for the Veteran's right knee disorder, left knee disorder, left foot/ankle disorder, lower back disorder, and GERD as secondary to his service-connected right foot/ankle disorder.

The Board has withdrawn the issue of a rating in excess of 60 percent for the Veteran's lumbar spine disability. The cervical spine disorder is not service connected, as there is no evidence that it was incurred or aggravated by military service. Headaches and radiculopathy of the bilateral upper extremities are also not service-connected, as they are not related to the Veteran's service-connected disabilities.

The Veteran's claims for service connection and increased ratings are denied. The Veteran has been granted service connection for tinnitus, but the maximum disability rating is already assigned.

The Board found that the Veteran's service-connected degenerative joint disease of the lumbar spine did not warrant an evaluation higher than 20 percent for the portions of the appeal period from January 22, 2003, to June 11, 2007, and from December 1, 2007. The Veteran's right knee retropatellar pain syndrome with baker's cyst also did not warrant an evaluation higher than 10 percent during the appeal period.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for further development, including obtaining updated medical records and scheduling VA examinations to assess his service-connected disabilities. The issues of nonservice-connected pension benefits and TDIU are also being addressed.

The April 2002 rating decision denying service connection for a low back disability and cellulitis of the right foot is final.

The Veteran is seeking compensation for additional low back disability resulting from VA medical and surgical treatment in February 2005. The Board has remanded the case to determine if the treatment was due to carelessness, negligence, or similar instance of fault on the part of VA.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional examinations and to consider the adequacy of the November 2006 examination.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded due to the need for additional development and examination.,The Veteran's claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss and low back disability has been remanded for further action.,The Veteran's PTSD rating remains at 70 percent, but his claims for other disabilities are being reviewed.,Service connection for hypertension is secondary to PTSD. The issue of service connection for the left knee and skin condition will be addressed as well.,The Veteran's left knee disability and skin condition need further examination to determine their etiology.,The Veteran's claim for a skin condition (pseudofolliculitis barbae) is being remanded.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining a medical opinion regarding the relationship between his service-connected right foot fracture residuals and his claimed disabilities of the feet, knees, hips, and lumbar spine.

The Veteran's appeal has been dismissed due to his death.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for a bilateral hearing loss disability and back condition to the RO in Houston, Texas for further action.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for right shoulder pain, right hand pain, and low back pain were denied as there was no current disability. The claim of service connection for a right ankle disability is pending.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's current low back disorder is a continuation of symptoms he experienced during his active duty service, and thus grants service connection for this condition.

The Board found that the Veteran's claimed disabilities were not incurred or aggravated by service and denied his claims.

The Board has remanded the case for further development due to insufficient reasons and bases regarding the credibility of the Veteran's lay statements concerning continuity of symptomatology.

The Board has granted the Veteran's claims for service connection for hypertension, migraines (secondary to undiagnosed illness), and a skin disability (xerosis). The other issues are remanded.

The Veteran's initial disability ratings for his back condition were increased to 20 percent as of February 25, 2009. His right leg radiculopathy was also rated at 10 percent prior to June 13, 2005 and then upgraded to 20 percent from that date.

The Board is remanding the issues of service connection for a low back disorder and a right knee disorder due to inadequate opinions in the January 2006 VA examination report. The Veteran needs to provide information about his private treatment, and VA should obtain any outstanding records.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for increased ratings for his lumbar spine disability, finding that the evidence did not meet the criteria for an evaluation in excess of 20 percent prior to January 4, 2007 and 30 percent as of January 4, 2007.