Back / lumbar spine decisions — 2007

The Board denied the petitions to reopen claims of service connection for a back disorder including spondylosis of the lumbar spine and bilateral pes planus, finding that new evidence did not relate to facts necessary to substantiate these claims.

The Board denied the appellant's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss, low back disability, and residuals of a contusion to the middle finger of the left hand due to his failure to report for scheduled VA examinations without good cause.

The Board has granted a 60 percent rating for the veteran's low back disability, effective from November 11, 1994. The decision also assigned separate ratings of 40 percent and 20 percent for right foot drop and left foot weakness, respectively.

The Board denied service connection for various conditions, including arthritis of the shoulders and elbows, DDD of the cervical spine, degenerative changes status post laminectomy of the lumbar spine, peripheral neuropathy of all extremities, a bladder disorder, migraine headaches, and a psychiatric disorder. The evidence did not support a finding of exposure to ionizing radiation during service.

The Board has denied the veteran's claims for service connection for chest pain, hypoglycemia, carpal tunnel syndrome (right upper extremity), a chronic gastrointestinal disorder, a cervical spine disorder, and a lumbar spine disorder. The Board also found that left carpel tunnel syndrome is not related to service.

The Board has determined that new and material evidence has been received to reopen the claim of service connection for mechanical back pain with old healed traumatic residual features of lower thoracic spine, degenerative disc disease and arthritis of the lumbosacral spine, and anterior compression of L1. The claim is granted as the veteran's condition was not incurred in or aggravated by active service.

The Board has determined that the veteran's low back disorder was aggravated during service, warranting service connection.

The veteran's claim for service connection for a low back disability is being remanded due to the need for an examination and additional development of his claims file.

The veteran's claims for service connection for intervertebral disc syndrome and degenerative disc disease of the lumbar spine, as well as tendonitis of the left shoulder, are being remanded due to the need for additional medical examination and consideration.

The Board has denied the veteran's claims for service connection for a back disability and recurrent kidney stones and end-stage renal disease, finding that there is no medical evidence of complaints or findings related to these disabilities prior to 2002. The preponderance of the evidence does not support a finding that any current disabilities are related to military service.

The Board found that the veteran's low back disorder did not manifest during service or within one year of separation, and there is no medical evidence linking his current condition to service. The preponderance of the evidence does not support a finding that the veteran's current low back disorder is related to active duty.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including seeking VA medical records and scheduling a VA examination to determine if the veteran's low back disorder is related to service or his service-connected disabilities.

The veteran's cervical spine problems are related to service and the Board has granted service connection for these conditions.

The Board has reopened the claim of entitlement to service connection for post-operative residuals of a spinal fusion at L4-S1 (claimed as back disorder) and finds that new and material evidence has been submitted. The Board concludes that the veteran's current back disorder is related to his period of service.

The Board has denied the veteran's request to reopen his claim of service connection for a low back disability, finding that no new and material evidence was presented since the last denial in November 2001.

The Board has remanded the case for further development due to incomplete medical opinions and other procedural issues.

The Board has remanded the case for further examination and readjudication due to an inadequate April 2004 medical examination report.

The Board has determined that the veteran's service-connected disabilities do not result in a permanent need for regular aid and attendance or housebound status, thus denying her claim for special monthly compensation.

The Board has denied reopening the claim for service connection of a low back disability due to lack of new and material evidence.

The Board has determined that the veteran's lumbar spine disorder did not first manifest in service or within a year of separating from service, and is not related to a disease or injury in service. Therefore, the claim for service connection was denied.