Back / lumbar spine decisions — 2005

The Board found that there is insufficient evidence to establish a direct service connection for the veteran's low back and right knee disorders, resulting in their denial.

The Board has granted service connection for a bilateral hearing loss disability and lumbar spine degenerative joint disease and degenerative disc disease, both determined to be directly related to service. The claimant's tinnitus issue is pending.

The VA determined that the veteran's service-connected disabilities do not render him unemployable, and thus denied his claim for a total disability rating based on individual unemployability.

The veteran's claim for Total Disability Rating Based on Individual Unemployability (TDIU) was granted effective September 30, 1999. The Board found no basis to award TDIU prior to this date.

The Board found that the veteran's ischemic heart disease and back disorder were not incurred in or aggravated by service, and may not be presumed to have been incurred therein. The evidence did not support a finding of direct service connection.

The Board has denied the veteran's claims for service connection for low back pain and chest pain, finding no competent medical evidence to support these conditions as originating in service or being related to his military service.

The Board has determined that the veteran's claimed low back and left hip disorders are not proximately due to or the result of his service-connected left knee disability.

The veteran's claims are being remanded due to the need for additional development, including obtaining medical records and conducting a VA examination.

The Board has granted service connection for a scar on the veteran's right shoulder, which was incurred during active duty training (ACDUTRA). The issue regarding degenerative joint disease of the lumbar spine with scoliosis is pending as it remains unclear whether new and material evidence has been received to reopen this claim.

The Board has reopened the claim for service connection for a low back condition based on new and material evidence, but denied it as there is no medical evidence linking the current disability to service.,Service connection was not granted for avascular necrosis of the left leg due to lack of medical evidence establishing its relationship to military service.

The VA denied a rating in excess of 20 percent for the veteran's low back strain, finding that his disability did not meet the criteria for an increased rating under the applicable diagnostic codes.

The Board has remanded the case due to outstanding medical records and a need for an examination. The veteran's claim for service connection for his low back disorder is pending.

The veteran's lumbosacral strain and degenerative disc disease of the lumbar spine are rated at 60 percent, effective September 23, 2002.

The Board has determined that new and material evidence has not been submitted to reopen the veteran's claims for service connection for low back and foot disabilities. The claims remain denied.

The RO denied the veteran's petition to reopen his claim for service connection for a back disorder in June 1995, and he did not appeal that decision. The RO also denied him service connection for a back disorder in April 1954 due to a pre-existing condition that was not aggravated during service.

The Board found that the veteran's arguments for an earlier effective date were not supported by the evidence of record, and thus denied his claim.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for arthritis of the feet and increased evaluations for bilateral pes planus and lumbosacral strain with osteoarthritis. The conditions are not presumed due to exposure, and there is no indication that they were incurred in or aggravated by service.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder and for a back disorder, finding that new and material evidence had not been received to reopen either claim.

The veteran's service-connected chronic lumbar strain with radiating sciatic pain was rated at 20 percent from July 27, 1995 to March 17, 2003.

The Board found that the veteran's current low back disability is not related to his service, and thus denied his claim for service connection.