Back / lumbar spine decisions — 2006

The veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining VA and private treatment records and a VA examination to assess the severity of his service-connected lumbar spine degenerative disc disease.

The Board has remanded the case for further development, including obtaining medical records and scheduling a VA examination to determine the etiology of any back or hip disability found.

The Board has granted service connection for a high back disability and right ear hearing loss, but denied service connection for left ear hearing loss.

The veteran is seeking service connection for an upper back disability, but the RO has not obtained all relevant medical records and a VA examination was requested to determine the etiology of his condition.

The Board denied service connection for osteoarthritis of the knees and degenerative disc disease of the lumbar spine, as well as an increased rating for residuals of a fracture of the sternum. The veteran's disabilities are not considered to be related to his military service.

The Board finds that the preponderance of evidence is against a finding that the current cervical spine disorder had its onset in service, and thus denied the veteran's claim for service connection.

The Board has ordered additional development to determine if the veteran's service-connected disabilities contributed to his death, including reviewing treatment records and obtaining a medical opinion.

The Board found that the veteran's urinary incontinence did not manifest during service and is not related to his lumbosacral spine disability. The claim for an increased rating of the lumbosacral spine disability was also remanded.

The Board has denied the veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral knee disability and low back disability, finding that there is no current evidence of these conditions or a link to service or a service-connected condition.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for hepatitis C, a respiratory disorder, a skin disorder, muscle pain, and joint aches. The evidence did not establish that these conditions were incurred or aggravated by active service.

The Board denied service connection for a gynecological condition, low back pain, and constipation. The veteran's gynecological condition was found to have existed prior to service and not aggravated by service. Her low back pain is unrelated to service. Constipation is also unrelated to service.

The veteran's claims for increased rating and total disability rating based on individual unemployability due to service-connected disabilities were denied. The Board found that the evidence did not support a higher rating for his low back disorder.

The veteran's bilateral pes cavus with hammertoes and calluses have been granted service connection, effective from November 16, 2005. The right and left knee disorders are not service connected as secondary to his service-connected bilateral hammertoes.

The Board has granted service connection for a right knee disability, sinus disorder, and gastrointestinal disorder. The claims for a right ankle disability and back disability are denied.

The veteran's lumbar spine disability was granted a rating of 40 percent effective December 20, 2000.,The veteran's cervical spine disability and right shoulder DJD were both granted initial ratings.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for increased ratings and secondary service connection, finding that his hip fracture was not due to or aggravated by a service-connected right knee disorder. The gastric ulcer was rated as moderately severe but not severe. The low back disability did not meet criteria for higher ratings under either old or new rating criteria.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for a back disorder and bronchial asthma, finding that new evidence did not raise a reasonable possibility of substantiating her claims.

The veteran's service-connected right and left knee disabilities have been granted increased evaluations, with the right knee receiving a 10 percent evaluation and the left knee receiving a 20 percent evaluation.

The veteran's appeal was denied for higher ratings for his service-connected low back disorder, gastroesophageal reflux disease, and fibromyalgia with irritable bowel syndrome.

The VA denied the veteran's claim of entitlement to service connection for a back disorder, finding that his current condition is less likely related to his active duty.