Back / lumbar spine decisions — 2007

The Board found that the veteran does not have a current low back disorder that was incurred in or aggravated by military service, and thus denied his claim for service connection.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for systemic nerve damage, stenosis of the lumbar canal with associated right sided sciatica and loss of use of legs with numbness, degenerative disc disease of the cervical spine, heart condition (claimed as heart palpitations), residuals of chronic prostatitis with retractable testicles, painful erection/ejaculation, and loss of use of a creative organ, and depression. The veteran's service-connected psoriasis was also denied for an increased rating.

The Board has reopened the veteran's claim for service connection for a back disorder, to include cervical and thoracic spine disabilities. The case is now remanded for further development.

The veteran's claims for increased evaluations of her lumbar strain and major depressive disorder, as well as a TDIU claim, were denied by the RO. The RO found that the evidence did not support higher ratings based on current disability levels.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including obtaining medical records and providing VCAA notice. The veteran's claim will be reconsidered after these actions.

The Board found that the veteran's bilateral peripheral neuropathy of the lower extremities is not due to or aggravated by his service-connected lumbar spine strain. The claim for an increased rating for lumbar spine strain with limited motion was continued at a 20 percent disability rating.

The veteran's low back disorder is service-connected.,There is no evidence to support a finding of service connection for the veteran's acquired psychiatric disorder.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for increased evaluations for his service-connected L5-S1 degenerative disc disease and bilateral hearing loss, finding that the evidence did not meet the criteria for a higher rating under the applicable VA rating schedule.

The veteran's claims for service connection are being remanded due to the need for additional development, including obtaining medical records and providing notice of what evidence is necessary to substantiate his claims.

The Board has determined that the veteran's claim for service connection for degenerative disc disease of the cervical spine requires additional development, including a VA examination and opinion. The case is being remanded to the RO.

The Board has remanded the case to the RO for further action, including scheduling VA examinations and adjudicating increased rating claims and secondary service connection claims. The TDIU claim will be re-adjudicated after these actions.

The Board has determined that the veteran's current lumbar disc degeneration with spondylosis was aggravated during his active duty for training (ACDUTRA) while serving as a dentist in the Army Reserves and Army National Guard. As such, service connection is granted.

The Board has determined that the veteran's cervical spine disability and back disorder are related to his service, meeting the criteria for direct service connection.

The Board denied the veteran's claim of service connection for lumbosacral strain, finding that he was not on active duty or inactive duty training when he sustained the injury. The evidence did not support a presumption of service connection due to his Gulf War service.

The Board found that the veteran's low back disability did not meet or approximate the criteria for a higher rating, and thus denied his claim for an increased rating.

The Board denied the veteran's request to reopen his claim for service connection for a low back disability due to lack of new and material evidence.

The Board found that the veteran's current right shoulder disability is related to his active service, granting service connection for this condition.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for heart disease and higher evaluations for degenerative disc disease of the lumbosacral spine, finding no evidence to support these claims.

The veteran's claims for increased ratings were denied. The RO found that his undiagnosed illness, chronic eczema, and low back pain did not meet the criteria for higher disability evaluations.

The veteran's PTSD has been rated at 30 percent since June 13, 2005. The RO found that the veteran did not meet the criteria for a higher rating due to occupational and social impairment with reduced reliability and productivity.