Back / lumbar spine decisions — 2007

The veteran has withdrawn his appeals for service connection for spinal muscular atrophy and degenerative disc disease changes, lumbar spine as a result of exposure to herbicides. The appeal is dismissed.

The Board has remanded the case to the RO for further development, including obtaining service medical records and scheduling a VA examination. The veteran's claims for service connection for back and neck disorders are pending.

The Board denied the veteran's claims of service connection for right ear hearing loss, residuals of rupture of the left ear drum, and low back disability. The claim for initial compensable rating for left ear hearing loss was also denied.

The Board has granted service connection for bilateral hearing loss and a back disorder (Degenerative Disc Disease of the Lumbar Spine) based on in-service exposure to acoustic trauma and degenerative joint disease, respectively. The veteran's claims are now fully resolved.

The Board is remanding the claims to reopen for service connection for a low back disorder and bilateral pes planus due to insufficient evidence in prior denials, and will provide further notice as required by Kent v. Nicholson.

The Board found no evidence to support a service connection claim for the veteran's current low back disability, concluding that it was not incurred during or related to his military service.

The Board found no medical evidence linking the veteran's current low back disability to his service, and thus denied his claim for service connection.

The Board has granted a 40 percent rating for the veteran's low back strain with degenerative joint disease, effective from January 2002. The ratings for left and right carpal tunnel syndrome remain at 20 and 10 percent respectively.

The Board has denied the veteran's claims for service connection for tinnitus, a left shoulder disability, and low back disability. The claim for an acquired psychiatric disorder (PTSD) is pending as part of the appeal.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to incomplete service records and a need for further medical examination.

The Board has determined that the veteran's current low back disorder is not related to his military service and denied his claim for service connection.

The Board has determined that the veteran does not have a current right ankle disability or a current low back disability for which service connection can be granted. The claims are therefore denied.

The veteran's initial disability rating for his service-connected degenerative disc disease of the lumbar spine was granted at a 20 percent level since December 7, 2006. The other issues were either denied or not addressed in this decision.

The RO granted service connection for myositis ossificans of the right thigh and degenerative joint disease and disc disease of the lumbar spine as secondary to myositis ossificans of the left thigh, effective September 17, 2004. The veteran was also granted an initial rating of 30 percent for his service-connected left thigh disability.

The Board has reopened the veteran's claims for service connection for PTSD and low back condition, finding new and material evidence. The case is remanded to obtain additional medical records and conduct a VA examination.

The veteran's low back disability was rated at 20 percent prior to September 26, 2003. Since then, he has been granted a compensable evaluation for hidradenitis suppurativa.

The Board has determined that there is no current evidence of a hip disorder or back disorder, and thus service connection cannot be granted for these conditions.

The VA has determined that the veteran's service-connected disabilities do not preclude him from securing or following a substantially gainful occupation, thus denying his claim for a total disability rating based on individual unemployability.

The Board has remanded the case for further development and consideration, including obtaining additional VA and private medical records, providing VCAA notice, and readjudicating the claim.

The Board has determined that the veteran's low back disorder, characterized as degenerative disc disease L5-S1, was incurred in active service and grants entitlement to service connection.