Back / lumbar spine decisions — 2006

The veteran's claim for a higher rating for his low back disability was granted, with a 40 percent rating assigned. The claim for TDIU was denied as the veteran's only service-connected disability did not prevent him from securing and following substantially gainful employment.

The veteran's appeal is being remanded for further development and consideration of his claims for service connection for head, back, and neck disabilities due to herbicide exposure. The RO must ensure that all notification and development action required by the VCAA are fully complied with.

The Board has remanded the case due to the need for additional medical opinions regarding service connection for spinal injuries and headaches.

The Board has determined that there is no evidence of a chronic low back disability or asthma in service, and the medical evidence does not support a nexus between any current disabilities and military service. The claims for service connection are therefore denied.

The Board has determined that the veteran's back disability, which is related to his Paget's disease, was incurred during service and granted service connection for this condition.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for an increased rating for post-traumatic stress disorder and service connection for a low back disorder. The veteran is not entitled to an initial rating in excess of 50 percent for his PTSD, and there is insufficient evidence to establish service connection for his low back disorder.

The Board found that the veteran's disability did not meet the criteria for a higher than 20 percent rating based on straightening of the back, consistent with inflammatory changes and lumbosacral strain. The evidence showed limited range of motion but no ankylosis or severe symptoms.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including obtaining Social Security Administration records and providing the veteran with an opportunity to provide detailed information regarding his service stressors.

The Board found that the veteran's current back disability is not related to his military service, and thus denied service connection for residuals of a back injury.

The veteran's claim for an earlier effective date for VA compensation was denied as he did not timely elect to receive VA benefits after being notified of his entitlement.

The Board found that the veteran's heart condition, seizure disorder, chronic low back disorder, and ulcerative colitis did not have their onset in service or were otherwise related to his military service. The claims for these conditions were therefore denied.

The Board found no evidence of a nexus between the veteran's current low back disorder and his military service, thus denying his claim for service connection.

The Board has determined that the veteran's current back disability is not related to his military service and denied the claim for service connection.

The Board denied the veteran's claims of service connection for bilateral ankle disability and compensable rating for bilateral hearing loss, finding no medical evidence indicating current diagnoses.

The Board has ordered the case to be remanded for further development and consideration of the appellant's claims for service connection for back disorder and hearing loss.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for an increased rating for his low back disability and a TDIU, finding that the evidence did not meet the criteria for a higher rating under the applicable diagnostic codes.

The Board found that the veteran's current low back and right lower extremity disabilities are not related to service, thus denying his claims for service connection.

The veteran's total combined rating is currently 60%, which does not meet the threshold requirements for a total disability rating based on individual unemployability due to service-connected disabilities.

The Board has granted service connection for a low back disability and denied the claim for a compensable rating for bilateral hearing loss.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, whether new and material evidence was received to reopen a claim for lumbar disc disease with T12 wedging, entitlement to a compensable rating for bilateral hearing loss, and entitlement to a rating in excess of 10 percent for tinnitus.