Back / lumbar spine Board decisions

The Veteran's lumbar spine disability has been rated as 10 percent disabling since November 26, 2003. The Board found that the evidence does not support a higher rating for any period of time.

The Board denied the appellant's claims of entitlement to service connection for right knee and low back disabilities, finding that new and material evidence had not been received.

The Veteran's cervical spine disorder is being reviewed for possible secondary service connection to her already service-connected low back strain. Her claim for a higher rating on the low back disability and TDIU are also being remanded due to the need for additional medical opinions.

The Board has remanded the case for a videoconference hearing due to the appellant's request and because some issues have not yet been certified to the Board.

The Board has determined that a remand is necessary to obtain additional medical opinions regarding the Veteran's claimed bilateral foot disorder, right knee disorder, and low back disorder. The claims will be readjudicated after all development is completed.

The Veteran's appeal has been dismissed as he withdrew his appeals for all issues except PTSD.

The Veteran's service-connected conditions do not meet the criteria for either automobile and adaptive equipment or specially adapted housing assistance.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development due to incomplete records and to consider all applicable laws and regulations.

The Board found that the Veteran does not have a current disability related to her active duty service for asthma, cervical spine disorder, and acute bronchitis. The Board also noted that there is no evidence linking any of these conditions to service.

The Veteran's service-connected bilateral pes planus is found to have aggravated his current degenerative arthritis of the lumbar spine, and it is at least as likely as not that this aggravation also caused or aggravated any identified hip disability. Service connection for a bilateral hip disorder is granted.

The Veteran's claim for a TDIU is denied as he did not meet the schedular threshold and his unemployability was due to factors other than his service-connected disabilities.

The Veteran is seeking service connection for sleep apnea, which he claims is related to his already service-connected degenerative disc disease of the lumbosacral spine. The case has been remanded due to a request for a hearing before a Veterans Law Judge.

The Board has granted service connection for tinnitus and malignant melanoma of the right lung as a result of exposure to herbicides. The Veteran's claims for degenerative disc disease of the lumbar spine, melanoma and skin cancer of the neck and right cheek, atrial fibrillation, sterility, bilateral hearing loss, and nose disability have been withdrawn by the Veteran.

The Veteran's DDD of the lumbar spine is currently rated at 40 percent for the period beginning June 10, 2008.

The Veteran's appeal for nonservice-connected pension benefits was denied as he did not meet the threshold service eligibility requirements. The Board found that his military service does not qualify him for VA pension benefits.

The Veteran's claim is being remanded due to the need for additional development, including VA examinations and a review of his service records.

The Veteran's low back disability is currently rated at 20 percent, which is the maximum schedular rating available for his service-connected DDD and degenerative arthritis of the lumbar spine. The evidence does not support a higher evaluation.

The Veteran's claims of service connection for tinea pedis and a low back disability were denied, as the evidence did not establish that these conditions had their onset in or are otherwise related to his military service. The claim for an increased rating for hemorrhoids was also denied.

The Board found that the Veteran's low back disorder is not related to his active service and denied his claim for service connection.

The Veteran's claims for increased evaluations for his service-connected lumbar strain, right knee strain, and left knee strain are being remanded due to the need for additional development including obtaining updated medical records and scheduling a VA examination.