Back / lumbar spine decisions — 2007

The Board denied reopening the claim for service connection due to lack of new and material evidence.

The Board found that the veteran's lumbar strain did not meet or approximate the criteria for a higher rating, as her disability was characterized as moderate to moderately severe but not severe enough to warrant a 40% evaluation under the old or new rating criteria. The claim for an increased rating remains denied.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for a back disorder and an initial evaluation in excess of 30 percent for residuals of a right ankle malleolus spiral fracture with traumatic arthritis, finding no evidence of such conditions during service or within one year post-service.

The Board found new and material evidence to reopen the claim for service connection for lumbar spine disability but denied the claim on the merits due to lack of medical evidence linking current symptoms to service. The chronic respiratory disorder claim was denied as there is no clear evidence that it was incurred in or aggravated by active military service.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development due to missing post-service treatment records and for medical examinations to determine the nature, extent, and etiology of any current low back disorder and sinusitis.

The Board denied the veteran's claim for service connection for a low back disorder, finding no evidence of a chronic condition in service and insufficient medical evidence linking current disability to service.

The Board found no evidence of depression in service or a link to service, and thus denied the veteran's claims for service connection.

The veteran's appeal is remanded for further development, including obtaining additional treatment records and providing proper notice.

The Board has denied the veteran's claims for service connection for left hip, right hip, left knee, and right knee disorders. The claim for a back disorder is being remanded due to incomplete medical records.

The Board has determined that the appellant did not timely file a substantive appeal for her claim of secondary service connection for degenerative disc disease at L5-S1, and thus the decision denying this claim is final.

The Board has determined that the veteran's service-connected degenerative changes of the left knee and instability of the left knee do not warrant a rating in excess of 10 percent under applicable VA regulations.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for an increased rating for his service-connected low back disorder and service connection for bilateral tendonitis, upper extremities. The Board found that a rating in excess of 20 percent was not warranted at any time during the period of appeal.

The VA denied an increased rating for the veteran's service-connected lumbosacral strain with radiculopathy, as his disability did not meet the criteria for a higher rating under the applicable diagnostic code.

The veteran is seeking service connection for a lumbar spine disorder, which he claims was caused by an injury during his naval service aboard the U.S.S. Power in June 1964. The case has been remanded due to the need for a VA examination and opinion regarding the etiology of the claimed condition.

The Board denied service connection for a low back disability and sleep apnea, finding no evidence of such conditions in service or related to service. The claim for tinnitus was not reopened due to lack of new and material evidence.,Service connection for right shoulder separation remains at 30%.

The Board has determined that the veteran does not have service connection for any of the claimed disabilities, including bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, headaches, low back disability, and vision problems in the left eye.

The Board has granted a 20 percent evaluation for the service-connected lumbar strain with herniated nucleus pulposus from September 21, 2006. The veteran's disability was previously rated at 10 percent before that date.

The veteran seeks service connection for a low back disability, which includes spinal bifida. The case is being remanded to obtain additional development and medical opinions regarding the nature of his condition and whether it was aggravated by military service.

The Board has remanded the case due to incomplete service records and a need for additional notice.

The veteran's claims for increased ratings have been denied.,The RO found that new and material evidence had not been submitted to reopen a claim of service connection for a low back disorder.