Back / lumbar spine Board decisions

The veteran's claims for service connection for chronic low back disability and hypertension are being remanded due to the need for additional examinations and opinions.

The Board has granted service connection for the veteran's degenerative joint disease/degenerative disc disease of the lumbar spine, finding that it is at least as likely as not related to in-service trauma. The effective date remains pending.

The Board has determined that additional development is needed to properly adjudicate the claim for service connection for a low back disorder, including obtaining medical opinions and clarifying the nature of any shrapnel fragments in the appellant's body.

The Board denied reopening the claim for service connection for ulcerative colitis and denied increased ratings for SFW residuals of the lumbar and dorsal spine, as well as a TDIU rating.

The Board denied the veteran's claims of service connection for a low back disability and bipolar disorder, finding that there was no evidence to support these conditions as being incurred in or aggravated by active service.

The veteran's right knee medial meniscus tear was not incurred in service and is not proximately due to or the result of a service-connected disability. The veteran's low back disability has been rated at 40% based on severe limitation of motion.

The veteran's claim for an initial evaluation in excess of 20 percent for degenerative arthritis of the thoracic and lumbar spine is being remanded due to changes in the relevant regulations concerning spine disorders.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for cervical, thoracic, and lumbar spine disorders including as secondary to his service-connected injury to Muscle Group (MG) XXII. The claim for an increased rating for MG XXII disability was also denied.

The Board is remanding the case to the RO for further development and review of the veteran's claims, including obtaining updated medical records and conducting additional examinations. The issues include evaluations for chronic low back pain and arthritis of the left knee, as well as entitlements related to a meniscectomy and scarring.

The Board has determined that the veteran's back disability and PTSD are related to service, warranting a grant of service connection for both conditions.

The Board has reopened the veteran's claim of service connection for a low back disorder, to include lumbosacral arthritis. The case is remanded for further development and examination.

The Board has determined that the veteran's cervical spine disorders do not warrant ratings in excess of 30% prior to December 29, 1997, and 40% prior to June 11, 2001. The effective date for the increased rating remains unresolved.

The Board has denied the veteran's claims for service connection for PTSD, pes planus, malaria, sinusitis, left inguinal hernia, residuals of a spider bite of the left groin, and back disability. The claim for right ear hearing loss is granted as incurred in service, but the issue remains pending with respect to compensable ratings.

The veteran's claims for service connection and increased evaluations were granted, with the exception of sinusitis. The RO also provided initial compensable ratings for migraines and left tibia osteochondroma.

The Board denied entitlement to an initial rating in excess of 10 percent for low back strain from October 28, 2001, to August 8, 2002, and denied a rating in excess of 20 percent for the period beginning August 9, 2002. The criteria for both ratings were not met based on the evidence provided.

The veteran's appeal is being remanded for further development, including obtaining medical records and scheduling VA examinations to determine the current severity of his service-connected residuals of a fracture of the right transverse process of the fourth lumbar vertebra. The case will be readjudicated based on the new rating criteria as well as the provisions of Diagnostic Code 5285 as previously in effect.

The Board denied the veteran's claim for an increased rating for his right knee traumatic arthritis, status-post total knee replacement, as his disability picture does not warrant a higher evaluation.

The Board has determined that the VA medical examination is inadequate for adjudication purposes and has ordered a new examination. The veteran's claim of entitlement to service connection for low back pain will be remanded for further development.

The Board found no evidence of a low back disability related to service and denied the veteran's claim for service connection. The left ankle disability issue is remanded due to procedural issues.

The Board has remanded the veteran's claims for service connection for cervical and lumbar spine disorders due to the need for additional development, including obtaining medical records and scheduling a VA examination.