Back / lumbar spine Board decisions

The Board has remanded the case due to incomplete development and need for further medical examination.

The Board has ordered additional development due to incomplete records and the need for further medical opinion regarding the etiology of the veteran's low back disabilities.

The veteran's appeal is being remanded to the RO for additional development, including obtaining medical records and scheduling a VA examination. The issues of service connection and rating for his spine disabilities are pending.

The veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss, peptic ulcer disease, sinusitis, refractive error, arthritis of the lumbosacral spine, arthritis of the right knee, and arthritis of the left knee were denied. The decision is based on a lack of evidence showing these conditions were incurred or aggravated during active duty service.

The Board denied the veteran's claim for special monthly pension based on need for regular aid and attendance or being housebound due to his service-connected disabilities, as well as his non-service-connected conditions. The RO previously granted a non-service-connected pension.

The Board determined that the veteran's chronic acquired low back disorder, diagnosed as variously, was incurred in service due to a traumatic injury sustained during active duty.

The veteran's appeal is being remanded to the RO for further consideration due to incomplete records and a request for a hearing.

The veteran's internal derangement of the left knee was rated at 20 percent from April 23, 1997, to June 30, 2003.,Osteoarthritis with limitation of motion of the left knee (status post surgery) was rated at 100 percent from August 4, 2000, to September 30, 2000; 20 percent from October 1, 2000, to June 5, 2001; and 30 percent since August 1, 2002.,Degenerative disc disease of L5-S1 was rated at 40 percent from September 11, 1998, to February 7, 2001; 60 percent from February 8, 2001, to January 31, 2002; and 40 percent since April 1, 2002.,Right L-5 radiculopathy affecting the right lower extremity was rated at 20 percent from September 23, 2002.,Service connection for trochanteric bursitis of the right hip (claimed as secondary to service-connected left knee disability) was granted.

The Board has reviewed the evidence and determined that new and material evidence has not been submitted to reopen the claims for service connection for a back disability and hearing loss. The claims are therefore denied.

The veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining medical examinations and ensuring compliance with the Veterans Claims Assistance Act of 2000.

The Board has remanded the veteran's claims for service connection for minor degenerative disc disease and depression due to incomplete development of the record.

The Board found no evidence linking the veteran's current back and neck disabilities to service, thus denying his claims for service connection.

The Board has remanded the case due to incomplete information and further medical examinations are required. The veteran's claims for service connection for PTSD, fibromyalgia, and a low back disability will be reconsidered after all necessary steps have been taken.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for compensable ratings for sleep apnea, low back disorder (lumbosacral strain), and sinusitis. The disabilities were found to be asymptomatic or with slight subjective symptoms only.

The Board has determined that the veteran's low back and sinus disabilities were not incurred or aggravated during his active duty service. Service connection for prostate cancer due to exposure to ionizing radiation is also denied.

The Board denied the veteran's claims of service connection for a chronic acquired disorder of the right knee and an initial compensable evaluation for mechanical low back pain, finding no evidence to support these claims.

The veteran's chronic lumbar strain was incurred in service and granted service connection. However, the herniated disc and radiculopathy are not related to service and were not granted.

The veteran's claim for an increased evaluation for lumbosacral strain with ankylosis is being remanded due to the need for further examination and consideration under new criteria.

The veteran's claims for increased ratings are being remanded due to the need for additional examination and consideration of recent treatment records.

The Board has determined that additional development is required before the claim can be adjudicated, including notifying the veteran of new rating criteria and scheduling a VA examination to assess the severity of his service-connected back disability.