Back / lumbar spine decisions — 2005

The Board denied the appellant's claims for service connection for skin disability and low back disability, finding no evidence of a causal link between these conditions and his military service.

The Board found that the veteran's current degenerative disc disease did not begin during service and is not related to any incident of service. As a result, the claim for service connection was denied.

The Board denied service connection for a back disorder and PTSD. The veteran's claims were not supported by evidence showing chronicity of the conditions in or related to her active duty.

The Board found no medical evidence linking the veteran's lumbosacral strain or headaches to his period of service, and thus denied both claims.

The Board has denied service connection for a lumbar spine disorder, bronchitis, and hearing loss. Service connection was granted for tinnitus based on in-service noise exposure.

The Board found that the veteran's left hand symptoms are more likely associated with his service-connected cervical spine disability and/or left cubital tunnel syndrome, thus denying the claim for separate service connection.

The veteran's claims for increased evaluations for service-connected osteoarthritis of the lumbar spine and hypertension are being remanded due to the need for additional VA examinations, updated VCAA notification, and consideration of new schedular criteria.

The Board has remanded the case due to incomplete records and need for further development of the record, including obtaining medical records from private physicians and VA examinations.

The Board has restored the veteran's evaluations for limitation of motion of the lumbar spine and right hip bursitis to their previous levels, effective September 1, 2003.

The Board has granted service connection for depression as secondary to the veteran's service-connected disabilities, including his cervical spine and groin conditions. The effective date of the TDIU is set at January 7, 2003.

The veteran's claim for an initial evaluation in excess of 20 percent for degenerative disc disease (DDD) of the lumbar spine is being remanded due to inadequate examination reports and need for additional development.

The veteran's appeal is being remanded due to the need for further examination and consideration of service connection for degenerative disc disease of the lumbar spine, which may be secondary to his service-connected lumbosacral strain. The issue of an increased rating for his lumbosacral strain is also pending.

The VA denied an increased rating for the veteran's service-connected cervical spine disability, currently rated at 60 percent.

The veteran's claim for an increased evaluation for his service-connected discogenic disease of the lumbar spine and lumbar strain was denied as his disability did not meet the criteria for a higher evaluation.

The veteran's claim for service connection for a low back disorder, including lumbarization of the first sacral segment, is being remanded due to incomplete development and need for additional medical opinions.

The Board found that the veteran's current arthritis of the cervical spine and lumbar spine were not incurred in or aggravated by service, and may not be presumed to have been incurred in service.

The veteran's claims for bilateral leg disability, low back disability, groin abscess, and PTSD were denied as they did not meet the criteria for service connection.

The Board found that the veteran's claims of service connection for left hip, cervical spine, and low back disabilities were not supported by evidence sufficient to establish a nexus with his military service. The right hip disability claim was denied as well due to failure to report for an examination.

The veteran's appeal was denied for entitlement to higher ratings for PTSD and lumbosacral spine disabilities. The appeals were based on the severity of his service-connected conditions, but no specific exposure basis or presumption was mentioned.

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