Back / lumbar spine decisions — 2006

The Board has determined that a VA examination is needed to assess the current disability and its relationship to service. The veteran's claim for service connection for a low back disability will be remanded for further action.

The Board found that the veteran's osteoporosis of the lumbar spine was not incurred in service and denied her claim for service connection.

The veteran's degenerative disease of the lumbosacral spine is granted as service connected.

The Board has ordered further development due to the lack of Army service records, and will consider your claims for bilateral flat feet and lumbar spine disability.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for PTSD, head injury residuals, migraines, whiteouts or TIA, pulmonary condition (related to asbestos exposure), and back condition (related to a head injury). The reasons were that there was no evidence of chronic conditions related to these issues during service or post-service.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for increased ratings for his major depressive disorder, lumbar spine disability, and migraine headaches. The claim for a rating in excess of 50 percent for migraine headaches was dismissed due to the veteran's withdrawal.

The Board has granted the veteran's application to reopen his claim of entitlement to service connection for a low back disability. The decision on PTSD remains pending as the in-service stressors could not be verified.

The Board has determined that the veteran's claimed lumbar spine and right hip disorders were not incurred or aggravated during his active service, nor are they related to such service. The claims for service connection have been denied.

The Board found no evidence of a nexus between the appellant's current low back disability and his military service, including an in-service injury. The claim for diabetes mellitus was not addressed as it did not meet the criteria for service connection.

The Board found no evidence of a chronic low back disorder in service and denied the claim for service connection. For PTSD, the Board concluded that with reasonable doubt resolved in favor of the appellant, his post-service symptoms are related to service stressors.

The Board has granted a higher initial disability evaluation of 20 percent for the veteran's low back disorder, effective from January 18, 2001 to June 28, 2005.

The Board found that new and material evidence had not been received to reopen the claim of service connection for a low back disability, which was previously denied in January 1990.

The Board denied service connection for a cardiovascular disability and TDIU due to the lack of evidence linking these conditions to service or service-connected disabilities.

The veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development of his medical records and a determination on whether he is permanently disabled to the extent that he qualifies for Dependents' Educational Assistance under Chapter 35 of title 38 of the United States Code.

The Board is remanding the case for further development and consideration, including obtaining additional medical records and a VA medical opinion to address whether the veteran's esophageal cancer was caused or aggravated by his service-connected disabilities.

The Board has remanded the case due to incomplete medical records and will consider service connection for multilevel degenerative disc disease, L4-5, and disc bulges at L3-4 and L5-S1.

The Board has determined that the veteran's spondylolisthesis of the lumbosacral spine warrants a higher initial rating of 20 percent, effective October 3, 1996. The claim for an increased rating for bilateral sensorineural hearing loss is denied as there are no compensable ratings available under current regulations.

The Board has reopened the veteran's claim for service connection for a back disorder, but finds that there is no probative evidence linking any current back disability to an incident of his military service.

The Board has determined that the veteran's claimed disabilities are not related to his military service and have denied all of his claims.