Back / lumbar spine Board decisions

The Veteran withdrew his appeal for the issues of entitlement to service connection for myelopathy with atrophy and central canal stenosis, cervical spine; polysensory motor neuropathy, bilateral hands; polysensory motor neuropathy, right foot; and PTSD.

The Board has determined that a remand is necessary to obtain additional development, including new examinations and consideration of the Veteran's claim for total disability rating based on individual unemployability (TDIU) and extraschedular evaluation.

The Veteran's low back strain disability is currently rated at 20 percent, effective July 5, 2005. The Board has determined that a higher rating of 40 percent is warranted as of February 18, 2009.

The Veteran is seeking service connection for a spine disability, including scoliosis and degenerative disc disease. The Board has ordered a remand to determine if the current spine disability was caused or aggravated by service.

The Board has determined that the Veteran does not have a current diagnosis for any of his claimed disabilities, including back disability, bilateral hip and knee disabilities, bilateral leg disability, posttraumatic stress disorder, or eye injury. Therefore, service connection is denied.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded due to the need for additional examinations and records review. The issues include service connection, increased rating, and TDIU.

The Veteran's service-connected low back syndrome is currently rated at 20 percent disabling since May 7, 2009. The VA determined that the condition has resulted in muscle spasm or guarding severe enough to cause an abnormal gait and spinal contour.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's low back disability had its onset during his active duty service and granted service connection for this condition.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for a videoconference hearing at the Muskogee, Oklahoma RO.

The Board denied reopening the claim for service connection of a low back condition and denied an evaluation in excess of 10% for left ankle sprain. The effective date for the current 10% evaluation was not earlier than December 21, 2006.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for various disorders were denied as there is no evidence of current disabilities or a relationship to military service.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining medical records and providing updated VA examinations.

The Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorder is proximately due to his service-connected bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus. The Board finds that service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder is warranted on a secondary basis.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including obtaining nexus opinions from a VA examiner regarding whether the Veteran's claimed right hamstring and low back disorders are related to his service-connected right knee disability.

The Board denied entitlement to service connection for left knee and low back disabilities, finding that the current diagnoses were not related to active duty service or service-connected right knee disability.

The Veteran's claim for a compensable rating for his heart murmur was denied by the Board. The VA examiner found that the Veteran does not exhibit a workload greater than 7 METs but not greater than 10 METs or require continuous medication solely as a result of his service-connected heart murmur.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development and readjudication of the issues concerning service connection for a low back disorder, increased ratings for GERD and right knee arthritis.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for a low back disability and hypertension were denied. His claim for an increased rating for cervical strain with degenerative joint disease and tension headaches was also denied.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for a higher rating for his lumbar spine disability and TDIU based on service-connected disabilities, finding that the evidence did not support a higher rating or TDIU status.

The Veteran's mechanical low back pain is productive of characteristic pain on motion, and the Board has determined that a disability rating of 10 percent for this condition meets the criteria.