Back / lumbar spine decisions — 2008

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for a back disability and residuals of an injury to the right great toe, finding no competent medical evidence linking these conditions to his military service.

The Board has determined that the veteran's low back disability was not incurred in or aggravated by service, and arthritis of the lumbosacral spine may not be presumed to have been so incurred.

The Board has determined that the appellant's service connection claim for a low back disability is granted, as competent medical evidence relates his current diagnosis to his military service.

The veteran's claims for increased evaluations for lumbosacral strain with degenerative disc disease have been denied as the evidence does not meet the criteria for any of the requested higher disability ratings under the applicable VA rating schedule.

The Board has ordered a remand for additional development to determine the relationship between the veteran's current low back and left knee disabilities and his service.

The Board has determined that the veteran's current degenerative disc disease of the lumbar spine is related to his low back complaints in service, and thus grants service connection for this condition.

The Board found that the veteran's lumbar spine disability was not incurred in or aggravated by active duty service and is not otherwise related to his service-connected left knee disorder.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for ankylosing spondylitis of the thoracolumbar spine and L5-S1 radiculopathy, finding that there was no evidence to support a nexus between these conditions and his military service.

The Board found that the veteran's current back disorder is not related to service or a service-connected disability, and denied his claim for service connection.

The Board found no evidence of a low back disorder or groin muscle strain during active service, and the veteran's claims were denied as there was insufficient evidence to establish service connection.

The Board has determined that there is no competent evidence showing a link between the veteran's current low back disorder and his military service, thus denying his claim for service connection.

The Board has determined that there is not sufficient evidence to support the veteran's claims for service connection for degenerative disc disease of the lumbar spine and cervical spine, with S1 radiculopathy and erectile dysfunction.

The Board has determined that the veteran's current low back and neck disabilities are etiologically related to injuries sustained during active service, granting service connection for these conditions.

The veteran's appeal is being REMANDED to the RO for further development due to a need for additional examination and/or treatment records.

The Board has determined that the veteran's neck disorder and right hand disorder were not incurred or aggravated by service, and therefore denied his claims for service connection.

The veteran's claims for increase in right knee chondromalacia and initial ratings for peripheral neuropathy of the lower extremities are denied. The claim for an earlier effective date for a rating for low back injury is also denied.

The veteran's appeal is being remanded for scheduling a Board hearing at the RO.

The RO denied the veteran's claim for an increased rating for his service-connected degenerative disc disease, L3-L4-L5-S1. The current evaluation is 40 percent.

The Board has denied the veteran's claims for service connection for low back and right hip disabilities, as well as his claim for a higher rating for cervical spine disability. The case is being remanded to clarify whether cervical DJD is considered service-connected.

The Board has reopened the veteran's claim of service connection for arthritis of the lumbar spine as secondary to a service-connected gunshot wound to the right foot. However, it was denied on the merits. The veteran's bilateral hip disability and bilateral knee disability were also found not to be related to his service-connected gunshot wound to the right foot.