Back / lumbar spine decisions — 2007

The Board has granted a 40 percent rating for the lumbar spine disability to include a herniated disc at L5-S1, effective from August 8, 2004. The veteran's condition was previously rated as 20 percent disabling.

The Board denied the veteran's claims of service connection for a back disorder, eye injury and corneal abrasions, and sinusitis. The evidence submitted since the previous denials did not raise a reasonable possibility of substantiating these claims.

The Board has denied the veteran's claims for service connection for total left knee replacement with secondary left leg longer than right and chronic low back pain with degenerative disc disease at L5, as secondary to his claimed left knee condition.

The Board has reviewed the veteran's claims for service connection for various conditions, including PTSD, bilateral hearing loss, an acquired eye disorder, prostate cancer, low back disorder, and hypertension and cardiac disorders. The appeals are denied as the evidence does not support a finding of service connection for any of these conditions.

The Board has remanded the case for further examination and opinion regarding whether the veteran's upper back condition is related to service or a service-connected disability.

The Board has decided to remand the veteran's claims for additional development due to the need for a medical opinion regarding the relationship between his current low back and right leg conditions and his in-service injury or service-connected scar.

The Board has determined that the veteran does not have a current right knee, left knee, low back, asbestos-related disability, or bilateral hearing loss disability. Therefore, service connection for these conditions is denied.

The veteran's claim for service connection for a back injury is being remanded due to the need for additional medical examination and opinion regarding the etiology of his current back disability.

The Board has ordered additional development due to the need for notification on what evidence is necessary to reopen the claim for service connection for a back condition.

The veteran's claims for increased evaluation of low back disorder, service connection for bilateral arthritis of the hands, hypertension, and diabetes mellitus, type II were denied. The claims for reopening service connection for herniated nucleus pulposus of C5-C6 and right shoulder disorder were also denied.

The Board has determined that the veteran does not have current residuals of a head injury, left knee disorder, back disorder, or right arm disorder that are related to service. As such, these claims for service connection are denied.

The Board denied service connection for a prostate disability and a back disability as there is no current diagnosis of these conditions, and the evidence does not support a finding that they are related to service.

The Board has remanded the case due to missing medical records and need for further examination. The veteran's claims of service connection for an eye disability, back disability, and PTSD are pending.

The veteran's left knee disability is rated at 10 percent, but his right and low back disabilities are not service-connected.,VA examiners have determined that the veteran's current right and low back conditions are not related to his service-connected left knee disability.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development of medical records and for a VA examination to determine the nature and etiology of the veteran's lumbar spine disorder and headaches.

The Board has determined that there is no competent medical evidence of a current low back disability, and thus the criteria for service connection have not been met.

The veteran's claims for increased ratings for his service-connected lumbar spine disability and associated neuropathy of the lower extremities are being remanded due to the need for additional development, including a new examination.

The Board has determined that the veteran's low back disorder is related to military service and grants service connection for this condition.

The veteran's claim for an increased rating for his lumbar disc disease, status post discectomy and fusion is being remanded due to the need for additional development including obtaining medical records and conducting examinations.

The Board has confirmed and continued the current rating of 10 percent for osteoarthritis of the lumbar spine with degenerative disc disease, finding that it more nearly reflects the criteria for a 10 percent rating under the applicable rating criteria.