Back / lumbar spine Board decisions

The Board has decided to remand the case for additional development, including obtaining SSA and Workmen's Compensation records.

The Veteran's lumbar spine disability has not resulted in unfavorable ankylosis of the entire thoracolumbar spine or intervertebral disc syndrome with incapacitating episodes having a total duration of at least 6 weeks during the past 12 months, thus preventing her from receiving a higher rating.

The Board has dismissed the appeal for service connection for migraine headaches due to the Veteran's withdrawal of his appeal. The case is remanded for further development regarding whether new and material evidence has been received to reopen a claim of service connection for bilateral knee disability, as well as for evaluations of the Veteran's low back and left ankle/heel disabilities.

The Board has ordered the RO to attempt to obtain medical records from the Vancouver VAMC and Sierra Nevada HCS for the Veteran. The case will be remanded for further development.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded due to the need for a personal hearing before a Veterans Law Judge.

The Board has granted service connection for tinnitus and denied service connection for a left hand condition, as well as back condition. Tinnitus is found to be related to active service. The left hand condition is not considered secondary to the right leg fracture.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining medical records and scheduling examinations to assess the nature and etiology of her low back disability and bilateral femur and foot disabilities.

The Veteran's appeal is denied as his service-connected scars on the dorsum of the left hand and on the right wrist over the distal radius do not meet the criteria for a compensable rating under the applicable VA rating schedule.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including obtaining medical records from Parris Island and Camp LeJeune, as well as any private treatment records. The Veteran's claim to reopen his service connection for a low back disorder will be reconsidered.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims of service connection for thoracolumbar spine spondylosis and degenerative disc disease with disc herniation and nerve compression at L4-5, diabetes mellitus, and a left foot condition. The Board found no evidence linking these conditions to his time in service.

The Board found that the Veteran's degenerative disc disease of the lumbosacral spine is at least as likely as not etiologically related to his active service, and granted service connection for this condition.

The Board has remanded the case for further development, including obtaining missing service treatment records and a new VA examination to determine if the Veteran's service-connected right knee disability aggravated his non-service-connected back disorder.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's current low back disorder with arthritis of the spine is related to his service, and thus grants service connection for this condition.

The Veteran's mechanical low back condition, including compression fractures at T5 and L1-L2, results in a 40 percent disability rating for orthopedic manifestations. The Veteran also meets the criteria for a 20 percent disability rating each for moderate incomplete paralysis of the right femoral nerve, left femoral nerve, right deep peroneal nerve, and left deep peroneal nerve. Additionally, he is granted TDIU.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's right knee and lumbar spine disabilities are proximately due to or the result of his service-connected left knee disability, granting service connection for these conditions.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings were denied. The RO found that the evidence did not support a higher rating for any of his service-connected conditions.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's current lower back disorder, to include degenerative joint disease, is related to his military service and grants service connection for this condition.

The Veteran's migraine headaches are rated at 50% from November 15, 2002 to December 15, 2008. The low back disability is also rated at 50%. Both conditions meet the criteria for a higher evaluation.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's low back disability and residuals of a head injury, including headaches, are not related to service.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded due to incomplete development. He needs VA examinations for prostatitis, lumbar spine condition, and right wrist condition.