Back / lumbar spine Board decisions

The veteran's claim for an increased rating for chronic lumbosacral strain is being remanded due to the need for further examination and consideration of recent revisions in VA's rating criteria for spine disorders.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss, heart disability with associated visual disorder, low back disability, residuals of head injury other than headaches, and right hip disability.

The veteran's claims for higher ratings were denied. The RO increased the disability rating for patellofemoral syndrome of the right knee from 10 to 20 percent effective June 11, 2002 and for left patellofemoral syndrome from a zero percent to a 10 percent rating effective April 13, 2004. The veteran's claims for lumbosacral strain and varicose veins were not addressed in this decision.

The case is being remanded to the RO for additional development, including obtaining medical records and notifying the veteran of recent changes in the rating schedule for evaluating disabilities of the spine. The RO should consider all evidence and regulations before readjudicating the issues.

The Board found that the transient ischemic attack was not caused by VA treatment, including an epidural injection in the lower back. The veteran's TIA is denied under 38 U.S.C.A. § 1151.

The VA has determined that the veteran's cervical spine disability, which includes traumatic arthritis and degenerative disc narrowing, does not warrant a rating greater than 40 percent.

The veteran's postoperative cervical intervertebral degenerative disc disease with fusion at C5-C6 is rated as 30 percent disabling under the schedular rating. The claim for a compensable initial rating for myalgia of the upper back was granted.

The veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining a VA examination to assess the severity of his right ankle disability and determine if it is related to service. The back disability claim will also be evaluated with another VA examination.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss and knee disabilities, as well as his claim to reopen a previously denied back disability. The decision also addressed evaluations for right and left hip disabilities, finding that they did not meet criteria for higher ratings.

The Board has remanded the veteran's claims for an increased rating for a right knee disability and service connection for a chronic back disorder as secondary to his service-connected right knee disability due to conflicting evidence. The veteran should be scheduled for another VA examination.

The Board has remanded the veteran's claims for service connection due to insufficient evidence. The initial disability evaluations for GERD, plantar fasciitis of the left foot, and right foot are maintained at 10 percent.

The Board has remanded the case due to incomplete medical records and for a VA examination.

The veteran's appeal is being remanded to the RO for further development due to inadequate examination reports and incomplete records.

The veteran's claim for an earlier effective date for service connection of degenerative disc disease of the lumbar spine is being remanded due to a newly raised issue of clear and unmistakable error (CUE) in a prior rating decision.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for a low back disorder, skin rash (claimed as due to exposure to Agent Orange), defective vision, and borderline personality disorder. The effective date for the grant of service connection for PTSD was set at April 4, 2002.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for right shin splints and low back pain, finding no competent medical evidence linking these conditions to his period of active service.

The Board found that the veteran's current back conditions were not caused by military service and denied his claims for service connection.

The Board denied service connection for low back strain, PTSD, tremors (to include Parkinson's disease), headaches, and COPD. The veteran's claims were not supported by evidence of in-service stressors or a nexus to service.

The Board found no new and material evidence to reopen the claims for service connection for low back disorder and nasal disorder. The veteran's statements regarding in-service injuries were considered cumulative of previously submitted evidence.

The Board denied increased ratings for gunshot wound residuals of the abdominal region, lumbar region, and peritoneal adhesions.