Back / lumbar spine Board decisions

The Veteran withdrew his appeal for the issues of service connection for bilateral knee disorders, bilateral hip disorders, and a spine disorder.

The Board has granted a higher initial rating of 40 percent for the Veteran's low back disability, and an additional 10 percent rating for associated radiculopathy of the right lower extremity. The left thumb and right great toe disabilities are each rated at 10 percent.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including scheduling a videoconference hearing.

The Veteran's low back disability is rated at 40 percent, effective May 2003. The rating for neurological impairment of the left lower extremity was increased to 20 percent effective September 7, 2007.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's low back and bilateral leg disorders are not related to service, and thus denied both claims.

The Veteran's lumbosacral strain is currently rated at 20 percent, and a separate rating of 10 percent for radiculopathy of the right lower extremity from May 18, 2005, has been granted.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for reopening of his service connection claims for hearing loss, low back disability, and diabetes mellitus as new and material evidence was not received.

The Veteran's service-connected low back disability is currently rated at 10 percent prior to October 15, 2007. The Board finds that a higher evaluation is not warranted based on the evidence of record.

The Board has denied the appellant's claims to reopen his service connection for hip disability, cervical spine osteoarthritis, and back disability (including arthritis of the lumbar spine). The RO found that no new and material evidence had been submitted.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for upper and lower back disability, heart disability, and right foot disability (secondary to avulsion fracture of the right ankle). The evidence did not establish a link between these conditions and active military service.

The Board found that the Veteran's current back disabilities were not incurred in service and are not related to his service-connected diabetes. The appeal was denied.

The Board found that the Veteran's cervical spine condition, lumbar spine condition, and headache condition are not related to his active duty service.

The Veteran's claims for service connection and increased rating have been granted, but the effective dates are set at November 2, 2000, for the grant of service connection for residuals of SFW to left leg/calf, and April 10, 1998, for the assignment of a 10% rating for residuals of SFW to right hip.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including a new VA examination to assess the current severity of his service-connected lumbar spine disability and whether separate compensable ratings are warranted for any associated neurological symptoms. The case will be returned to the Board after this development.

The Board has remanded the case due to inadequate examination and opinion regarding the etiology of the Veteran's thoracolumbar spine disorder. The claim will be reconsidered with new evidence and a medical opinion based on review of all records.

The Board has reopened the Veteran's claim of entitlement to service connection for hepatitis C. The case is being remanded to obtain additional medical records and to schedule the Veteran for a VA examination to determine her current gastrointestinal diagnosis/diagnoses, as well as whether any psychiatric diagnoses are related to military service or aggravated by her gastrointestinal disorders.

The Veteran's claim for an increased rating in excess of 20 percent for his lumbar spine disability is being remanded due to the need for additional VA examinations and records.

The Veteran's claim for a higher rating for his service-connected low back disability was denied. The issue of service connection for degenerative joint disease of the bilateral ankles, claimed as secondary to service-connected bilateral shin splints, was also denied.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's right knee and low back disabilities are related to his service-connected left ankle injury, which occurred during active duty in July 2004. As such, these conditions have been granted as secondary to a service-connected condition.

The Veteran's appeal for initial compensable evaluation and increased evaluations were withdrawn prior to the Board's decision. The case is dismissed.