Back / lumbar spine decisions — 2007

The Board has determined that the veteran's bilateral compound hyperopic astigmatism and low back disability were not incurred during active service, thus denying his claims for service connection.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for higher initial ratings for his service-connected thoracolumbar strain with degenerative disc disease and left knee chondromalacia patella, as well as his claims for service connection for right hand injuries to the fingers and palm, depression, hearing loss, tinnitus, and sinusitis. The Board found that the evidence did not meet the criteria for a 20 percent rating under either the General Rating Formula or the Formula for Rating Intervertebral Disc Syndrome Based on Incapacitating Episodes.

The Board has determined that the veteran does not have a low back disability related to service, and his respiratory disability is not linked to service. The cervical spine disability was also found not to be related to service or his service-connected right shoulder disability.,As such, the claims for service connection for these conditions are denied.

The Board has denied the veteran's claims for service connection for cervical joint disease, right arm radiculopathy, left arm radiculopathy, and hypertension as they are not related to his military service or a service-connected condition.

The VA denied the veteran's claim for an increased evaluation for his service-connected degenerative joint and disc disease of the lumbar spine, finding that it did not meet the criteria for a higher rating.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for increased disability evaluations for his service-connected conditions, finding that the evidence did not support ratings higher than the current 30 percent for status post right arm fracture with residual ulnar neuropathy.

The Board has decided that a VA examination is needed to determine the nature and etiology of any currently present lumbar spine disability, including whether it is related to service.

The Board has determined that the appellant's current bilateral hearing loss and degenerative disc disease of the lumbar spine are related to his military service, warranting service connection for these conditions.

The Board found that the veteran's bilateral shoulder and back disabilities were not incurred or aggravated by service, and denied his claims.

The Board found no evidence that the veteran's current low back disorder is related to his active service, including a jump from a second-story window. The preponderance of medical evidence supports the conclusion that the condition began after service and is more likely due to age-related changes.

The Board has remanded the case due to incomplete records and further development is required.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for increased ratings and service connection, finding that his conditions did not meet the criteria for higher disability evaluations or service connection under the applicable rating criteria.

The Board has reopened the veteran's claims of service connection for low back and right hip disabilities due to new evidence showing their onset during service. The conditions are now considered service-connected.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for major depressive disorder and chronic back disability, as well as his requests for increased ratings for GERD and headaches. The appeals were not about service connection at all.

The veteran seeks service connection for a lumbar spine disorder and an increased rating for his cervical spine arthritis. The case is being remanded to allow for further development, including VA examinations and notification of the appellant.

The Board has determined that the veteran's current back disability, degenerative joint disease of the lumbar spine, was not incurred in or aggravated by active service. The VA examiner found it less likely than not that the veteran's present low back condition is secondary to his complaint of primary injury to the lower back while on active duty for training.

The VA determined that there is no evidence linking the veteran's current low back disability to his military service, and thus denied his claim for service connection.

The veteran's service-connected disabilities, specifically including his PTSD, are found to be of such severity as to preclude him from obtaining or retaining substantially gainful employment.

The Board found that the veteran's lumbar spine disability was not incurred in service and denied his claim. For PTSD, the Board determined that the current disability is not related to service and thus did not meet the criteria for a higher rating.

The Board has granted service connection for a seizure disorder, finding that it is proximately due to or the result of the veteran's service-connected cardiovascular disorders. However, the thoracic-lumbar spine disabilities were not incurred in or aggravated by military service and are not related to the service-connected cardiovascular disability.