Back / lumbar spine decisions — 2006

The Board found no evidence of a current diagnosis of a low back disorder and denied the claim for service connection.

The VA determined that the veteran's low back disorder is not related to his military service and denied his claim.

The veteran's claim for service connection for lumbosacral strain is being remanded due to the need to obtain additional medical records and provide proper VCAA notice.

The Board has granted a disability rating of 40 percent for the veteran's service-connected lumbosacral spine disorder, effective February 1, 2005.

The Board denied the veteran's claims of service connection for PTSD, hypertension, and gastroenteritis. The claim to reopen a low back disorder was also denied.

The Board has determined that the veteran's lumbar and thoracic spine disabilities are service-connected, with no specific effective date provided.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for various conditions, including a neurological disorder, back disorder, urinary tract disorder, eye disorder, prostate disorder, vertigo, PTSD, dysthymic disorder, and headaches. The denial is based on the presumption of service connection for certain diseases associated with exposure to herbicide agents used in Vietnam.

The Board has determined that the veteran's low back disorder, although sustained in service, is not casually or etiologically related to service and therefore denied his claim for service connection.

The veteran's appeal is being remanded for further development, including consideration of the diagnostic criteria for intervertebral disc syndrome effective as of September 26, 2003.

The Board has denied the veteran's claims for service connection for major depression and a back disability. The claim of increased rating for bilateral hearing loss is being remanded to obtain additional evidence.

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

The veteran's claim to reopen his previously denied service connection for a chronic low back disability is being remanded due to the need to obtain additional medical records and provide VCAA notice.

The Board found no evidence of a back injury or disease in service, and the veteran's claim for service connection was denied.

The Board has determined that the veteran does not have a current low back disability and therefore, service connection for this condition is denied.

The veteran's claims for increased hearing loss, service connection for psychiatric disability, hypertension, and low back disability are being remanded due to the need for additional medical evidence and examination.

The veteran's low back disability is manifested by some limitation of motion with pain, weakness, fatigability and instability upon repetitive use. The Board grants a 40 percent rating for the service-connected residuals of a low back injury with traumatic arthritis, L4-L5.

The Board has determined that the veteran does not currently have tinnitus, an upper back disorder, or a bowel disorder as a residual of service. Therefore, these claims for service connection are denied.

The veteran's appeals regarding the propriety of a dental decision and service connection for dental trauma were dismissed due to his withdrawal. The claims for hypertension, arthritis of the lumbar spine, and index finger fracture residuals are denied as there is no evidence of such conditions during or immediately following service.

The veteran's disabilities do not meet the criteria for a permanent and total disability rating for pension purposes.

The Board found no evidence to support the veteran's claims for service connection for low back and left leg/knee disabilities, as there was no indication of injury or disease in service that could be linked to his current conditions.