Back / lumbar spine decisions — 2006

The Board has granted a rating of 40 percent for the veteran's service-connected spondylitis of the lumbar spine, effective from May 26, 2006.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral knee and lumbar spine disabilities, finding no evidence of a link between these conditions and his military service.

The Board found that new evidence submitted by the veteran raised a reasonable possibility of substantiating his claim for service connection, but did not establish the required elements for service connection.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for increased ratings for his cervical spine disorder, lumbosacral strain, and gastroesophageal reflux with esophagitis, hiatal hernia, and erosive gastritis. The evidence did not support service connection or higher ratings under applicable criteria.

The Board has ordered a remand due to the need for additional medical examination and development of records. The veteran's service connection claims will be reconsidered based on the new evidence.

The Board found that the veteran's low back disability was not incurred in or aggravated by service and arthritis may not be presumed to have been incurred therein.

The Board found that the veteran does not have a back disability attributable to service and denied his claim for service connection.

The Board has denied the veteran's claims for service connection for a back disability, headaches, and a skin disorder. The evidence does not support current diagnoses of these conditions.

The Board found that the veteran's low back disorder does not warrant a rating in excess of 20 percent, as his range of motion did not meet the criteria for a higher rating under the general formula for diseases and injuries of the spine.

The Board has determined that the veteran's death was not caused by a service-connected condition, and thus denied the claim for service connection for the cause of his death.

The Board has remanded the case for further development, including a VA examination to assess whether the veteran's low back disorder is proximately due to or increased in severity by his service-connected bilateral knee disability.

The Board has determined that the veteran's arthritis of the right hip, bilateral leg disorders, and arthritis of the lumbar spine were not incurred or aggravated by active service. The evidence does not support a finding of service connection for these conditions.

The Board granted a 20 percent evaluation for the service-connected degenerative disc disease of the lumbar spine effective from November 8, 2002. The veteran's sinusitis was also found to warrant an initial evaluation of 30 percent.

The Board found that the veteran did not have a low back disability in service or for many years thereafter, and thus denied his claim of entitlement to service connection.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development due to insufficient VCAA notice and conflicting medical evidence regarding the veteran's cervical spine disorder. The case will be returned to the Board after further development.

The Board has denied the veteran's claims for service connection for a low back disability, residuals of a right hand boxer fracture, and residuals of a nasal fracture due to lack of current disabilities as determined by VA examination reports.

The veteran's appeal for increased rating and service connection issues have been remanded due to the need for additional development, including a change in representative.

The Board found that there is no evidence of degenerative disc disease of the lumbar spine or hypertension in service, and these conditions are not related to service. Therefore, service connection for both conditions was denied.

The Board has determined that the veteran's current low back disability is not related to his active military service. The variously diagnosed psychiatric disorder was not manifested in service or within one year post-service, and there is no evidence linking it to service. Similarly, the arthritis of the joints and spine did not manifest during service or within one year post-service, and there is insufficient evidence to establish a connection.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for increased ratings for his service-connected tinnitus, degenerative disc disease of the lumbar spine, and chronic left knee strain.