Back / lumbar spine Board decisions

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for new and material evidence for service connection for a low back disorder, service connection for a left shoulder disorder, entitlement to a temporary total disability evaluation under 38 C.F.R. § 4.30 for surgery of the left shoulder, entitlement to an initial rating in excess of 30 percent for major depressive disorder, and entitlement to a compensable evaluation for internal derangement of the right knee.

The Board has remanded the case to the RO for a new medical examination and opinion due to an inadequate January 2009 VA examiner's conclusion that any additional disability was related to the natural progression of the Veteran's degenerative disc disease. The Veteran is seeking compensation under 38 U.S.C.A. § 1151 for a back disability resulting from October 2000 VA surgery.

The Veteran's claim for an increased rating for lumbosacral strain with degenerative joint disease is being remanded due to the need for a new VA examination to assess current functional loss and severity of his disability.

The Board has granted service connection for the veteran's low back disability, finding that it is at least as likely as not caused by his military service. The VA examiner was unable to locate any evidence of treatment for foot and knee conditions during service.

The Veteran's low back disabilities are found to be related to his period of active duty for special work (ADSW) in support of Hurricane Katrina relief efforts, and service connection is granted.

The Board denied an initial rating in excess of 20 percent for degenerative disc disease (DDD) of the lumbar spine, finding that the Veteran's disability did not meet criteria warranting a higher rating under VA regulations.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded to obtain additional employment records from the United States Postal Service (USPS) and for further development of his claims.

The Board found no medical evidence linking the Veteran's current low back disability to his active duty service, including a 1969 complaint of back pain. The claim was denied.

The Board found that the Veteran's low back disorder was not incurred in or aggravated by active service and arthritis of the low back cannot be presumed to have been incurred in or aggravated by service.

The Board found that the Veteran's lumbar spine disability, including herniated nucleus pulposus L4/L5, was not incurred in or aggravated by active service.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for earlier effective dates and increased ratings, finding no evidence of a pending claim prior to August 6, 2003, for service connection. The claims were also denied for service connection for various conditions.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for hypokalemia, a right knee disability, and a back disability due to insufficient evidence of current disabilities or a link between these conditions and active military service.

The Board has remanded the case due to the need for additional development, including obtaining SSA records and VA medical records.

The Veteran's claims for service connection and increased ratings were granted, with the exception of allergic rhinitis. The Veteran was awarded a 10 percent disability rating for low back strain with hip strain, a 40 percent rating for polycystic ovarian cysts and uterine fibroids, and an initial compensable rating for right foot scar.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral foot disability and low back disability, finding no evidence of a direct relationship to service.

The Board has determined that the evidence received since the March 1989 rating action is not new and material, thus denying the Veteran's request to reopen her claims for service connection for disabilities of the neck and back including lumbosacral strain.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for various conditions, including bilateral hearing loss, hypertension, an acquired psychiatric disorder (including PTSD and depressive disorder), diabetes mellitus, and a low back disorder have been granted. The claim for residuals of a left ankle fracture has also been reopened.

The Board has remanded the case due to incomplete records and further development is required.

The Board denied the Veteran's request to reopen his claim of service connection for a lumbosacral strain, finding that the new evidence does not raise a reasonable possibility of substantiating the claim.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development due to incomplete service treatment records and need for further examinations.