Back / lumbar spine decisions — 2007

The veteran's claims for service connection for right arm/elbow, right leg, and right hip disabilities are denied. The cervical spine, lumbar spine, and right shoulder disabilities were established prior to service and are not considered incurred in or aggravated by service. Service connection is granted for the skin disability and right knee disability as they were established prior to service. Hypertension was not present during service or within one year of separation.

The Board denied service connection for a low back disability, finding that the appellant's current condition is not related to his military service.

The veteran's claims for increased ratings were denied as there is no factually ascertainable evidence demonstrating an increase in disability occurred prior to April 1, 2002.,The veteran's claims for increased ratings were denied as there is no factually ascertainable evidence demonstrating an increase in disability occurred prior to April 1, 2002.,The veteran's claims for increased ratings were denied as there is no factually ascertainable evidence demonstrating an increase in disability occurred prior to April 1, 2002.

The Board has remanded the case for further development, including a VA examination and consideration of additional evidence. The veteran's service-connected degenerative arthritis of the lumbar spine is at issue.

The Board has dismissed the appeal due to the veteran's failure to provide necessary medical records and authorizations within one year of being requested.

The veteran's claim for an increased evaluation of his lumbosacral strain with degenerative disc disease was granted, and he is currently rated at 60 percent disabling.

The Board has determined that the veteran's defective vision is not due to a disease or injury incurred in service, and his low back disability was not caused by military service. The claim for service connection for both conditions is denied.

The Board found that a back disability was not incurred in or aggravated by active service and denied the veteran's claim for service connection.

The Board has reopened the veteran's claim for service connection for a lumbar spine disorder and granted it. The claim for an initial rating higher than 50 percent for PTSD remains pending.

The Board found that the veteran did not have a chronic low back disorder during service or for several years after discharge, and there is no medical evidence etiologically linking his low back disorder to his military service, including by way of his already service-connected left knee and leg disabilities.

The Board has determined that there is no competent medical evidence linking the veteran's current low back strain to his service, and thus denied his claim for service connection.

The Board denied the veteran's claim of service connection for a low back disability, finding that there was no medical evidence linking his current condition to his military service.

The veteran's claims for increased evaluations of his low back and knee conditions were denied. The RO confirmed the existing ratings, with no changes in evaluation.

The Board denied an earlier effective date for the veteran's service-connected pes planus valgus with calcaneal fat pad syndrome and denied his claims for other disabilities, including refractive error, adjustment disorder, ankle disorders, shin disorders, knee disorders, hip disorders, low back disorders, and hemorrhoids.

The Board has determined that the veteran's low back disability did not originate in service and is not related to service. As a result, the claim for service connection for a low back disability is denied.

The Board has remanded the veteran's claims for bilateral elbow epicondylitis and low back strain due to pending issues.

The Board has remanded the case due to incomplete service medical records and will request additional information from the veteran's RAF Hospital in Lakenheath, England.

The Board has determined that the veteran's low back, bilateral hip, and left leg disorders are not proximately due to or aggravated by her service-connected degenerative joint disease of the bilateral knees.,There is no medical evidence indicating a direct link between the veteran's service-connected knee disabilities and any of the claimed conditions.

The Board found that the veteran's back disorder did not manifest during service and is not related to his military service, thus denying his claim for service connection.