Back / lumbar spine decisions — 2007

The Board has remanded the case for further development, including obtaining VA treatment records and scheduling a VA examination to determine if the veteran requires regular aid and attendance or is substantially confined to his premises due to service-connected disabilities.

The Board has determined that new and material evidence has been submitted to reopen the claim for service connection for a spinal disorder, but the claim remains denied.,Service connection for bilateral pes cavus with plantar fasciitis and degenerative joint disease of the right first metatarsophalangeal joint is denied as there is no compensable evaluation.

The Board has determined that the veteran does not have hearing loss or a back condition that is attributable to his military service. The claim of service connection for hearing loss was denied because there is no evidence of current disability, and the claim of service connection for a back condition was reopened due to new medical evidence.

The Board finds that the evidence supports service connection for status post L4-L5 discectomy with degenerative disc disease, and grants the veteran's claim.

The case is being remanded for further development, including obtaining additional medical records and scheduling VA examinations to assess the veteran's service-connected disabilities.

The veteran's lumbosacral strain was initially rated at 10 percent prior to February 18, 2000 and increased to 40 percent since then.

The Board finds that it is as likely as not that the veteran's low back disorder, including degenerative discopathy L4-5 and L5-S1 with degenerative joint disease facet L4-L5 and stenosis of the spinal canal, was incurred in service.

The veteran's appeal is being remanded for further evaluation of his service-connected cervical spine degenerative disc disease to determine the appropriate increased rating.

The veteran's claims for service connection for various left and right lower extremity disorders, as well as a back disorder, have been denied due to the absence of current diagnoses or medical nexus.

The veteran's low back disorder is being remanded for further examination and medical opinion to determine if it is related to service. The appeal will be returned after the necessary actions are taken.

The veteran's appeals for increased evaluations for his service-connected disabilities have been dismissed due to the lack of a substantive appeal.

The Board has determined that the veteran's right shoulder and low back conditions are at least as likely as not caused by his service-connected cervical spine disability.

The Board has remanded the veteran's claims of entitlement to service connection for osteoarthritis of various joints and entitlement to TDIU due to incomplete evidence, including a lack of x-rays from his May 2004 VA examination.

The veteran's service-connected intervertebral disc disease syndrome of the lumbar spine is currently rated at 40 percent and meets the criteria for a higher rating.

The veteran's claims for service connection for a skin condition, back disorder, right shoulder disorder, hypertension, and bilateral hearing loss were denied as there was no evidence of chronic conditions initially manifesting during his active service or ACDUTRA.

The Board found that there is no competent medical evidence showing a low back disorder related to service or the veteran's service-connected right ankle disability, and thus denied the claim for service connection.

The Board has determined that the veteran's low back disability, manifested by degenerative disc disease and osteoarthritis of the lumbar spine, is not due to any event or incident of his service. Therefore, the claim for service connection is denied.

The Board has denied the veteran's claim for service connection for a back disorder, identified as degenerative disc disease of the lumbar spine, finding that there is no medical evidence relating his current condition to service.

The Board found no evidence of a back disability in service or within one year after service, and concluded that the veteran's current degenerative joint disease is not related to his military service.

The Board finds that the veteran's current back condition is not incurred in or aggravated by service, and thus denies his claim for service connection.