Back / lumbar spine Board decisions

The Board has determined that additional development is needed to ensure compliance with the Veterans Claims Assistance Act of 2000 (VCAA). The case is being remanded for further action.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for a low back disorder and higher initial ratings for his right knee patellar femoral pain syndrome, post-operative meniscus tear, and residuals of crush injury to the right hand status post open reduction internal fixation of fracture of the fourth metacarpal and dislocation of the fifth metacarpal bones and tenolysis with limitation of motion of the wrist.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including a VA examination to assess the nature and etiology of the veteran's claimed back disorder.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for a low back disability, increased ratings for his right and left knee disabilities, and an increased rating for his fracture of the right third metatarsal. The RO has not assigned any compensable ratings to these conditions.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for a lumbar spine disability and a cervical spine disability, finding that these conditions were not incurred in or aggravated by service. The total rating based on individual unemployability due to service-connected disabilities was also denied.

The Board has determined that the veteran's persistent pain in her neck and upper back is attributable to a service-connected left shoulder disorder, with no evidence of any relationship between her current spine disability and active duty service.

The Board denied the veteran's claim for an increased rating for his service-connected postoperative residuals lumbosacral strain with disc disease, currently rated at 20 percent.

The Board found that the veteran does not have a low back disability as a result of her service and denied her claim for service connection.

The Board has granted service connection for chest pain, low back disability, dysthymic disorder, and prostatitis as due to undiagnosed illness from service in the Gulf War. The stomach disorder claim is not addressed.

The Board denied the veteran's claim for service connection for post-operative residuals of herniated nucleus pulposus of the lumbar spine, finding no evidence linking this condition to his military service.,The Board also denied the veteran's claim for a total disability rating based on individual unemployability (TDIU), as he had no service-connected disabilities.

The Board has determined that the veteran's back disability, including degenerative joint disease of the lumbar spine, is related to his service in Vietnam and granted his claim for service connection.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development due to incomplete records and further examination.

The Board has determined that the veteran's current low back disorder is not related to his period of active duty training in July 1980, and thus denied his claim for service connection.

The Board has ordered the case to be returned for further development due to the veteran's failure to report for a VA examination and his identification of additional medical records.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for increased evaluations and service connection for various conditions due to undiagnosed illness, finding that new evidence was not sufficient to reopen previously denied claims.

The Board denied the veteran's appeal for service connection for headaches, memory problems, and musculoskeletal disorders of the cervical and lumbar spines. The claim to reopen her arthritis claims was also denied.

The veteran's low back strain with L5 nerve root irritation is currently rated at 60 percent, the highest possible rating under the amended intervertebral disc syndrome regulations. The hip arthritis claim was granted as secondary to service-connected back and knee disabilities.

The veteran's appeal is being remanded due to the need for further development of evidence, including obtaining VA and private medical records, as well as Social Security Administration (SSA) disability benefits award records. The case will be reviewed by the RO after these additional steps are completed.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for higher ratings for cervical spine arthritis and radiculopathy, arthritis of the lumbar spine, and paresthesia of the alveolar nerve, left jaw.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development due to inadequate notification and possible legal errors in previous decisions.