Back / lumbar spine decisions — 2008

The veteran's stomach, neck, back, and skin disorders were not related to his military service.

The Board has reopened the claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss and granted service connection. The veteran's claims for increased ratings for various disabilities, including otitis externa, muscle injuries, and scars, have been denied.

The appeal is remanded to obtain additional evidence, including VA treatment records and private medical records from the local orthopedist.

The veteran withdrew his appeal for an earlier effective date for the grant of service connection for herniated nucleus pulposus, lumbar spine.

The Board granted a 20 percent evaluation for the residuals of right ankle sprains, finding that the evidence established marked limitation of motion with additional functional impairment.

The Board denied service connection for PTSD, hepatitis C, a low back disorder, bilateral pain in the feet, legs, and hands, hyperlipidemia, an ulcer disorder, and a skin disorder due to lack of evidence supporting these claims.

The Board remands the case for further evidentiary development to obtain a medical nexus opinion regarding the veteran's claimed back and bilateral knee/leg disabilities.

The Board remands the case for further development, including obtaining additional medical records and scheduling VA examinations to determine the nature and etiology of the appellant's claimed disabilities.

The Board denied the veteran's petitions to reopen his previously denied claims for service connection and also denied his original claims for service connection for bilateral pes planus and a claimed ear disorder.

The Board denied the veteran's claim for service connection for degenerative disc disease of the lumbar spine, with right S-1 radiculopathy, as there was no evidence that a current disorder was related to his military service.

The Board denied the veteran's claim for secondary service connection for a low back disability, finding that his low back disability was not caused or aggravated by his service-connected bilateral chondromalacia of the knees.

The Board granted the veteran's petition to reopen his claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss, but remanded the issues of entitlement to a rating in excess of 20 percent for lumbar disc syndrome and a rating in excess of 10 percent for residuals of a left ankle fracture for further development.

The Board denied service connection for a lumbar spine disability, finding no competent medical evidence linking the veteran's condition to his active service.

The veteran's claim for an increased rating for his low back disability is being remanded to schedule the veteran for a new VA examination.

The veteran's claims for increased ratings were denied as the evidence did not support higher ratings than those already assigned.

The veteran's claims for increased ratings for his right shoulder and lumbar spine disabilities were denied as the evidence did not show that his conditions had worsened to a degree warranting higher ratings.

The veteran's claims for increased ratings were denied, except for a 60 percent rating for his herniated nucleus pulposus and disc protrusion prior to January 31, 2006.

The Board found that the preponderance of evidence did not support a relationship between the veteran's current back condition and his military service.

The Board denied service connection for a low back disorder and an acquired psychiatric disorder as there was no evidence of chronic conditions in service, and the current disorders were not related to active duty.

The veteran's claim for service connection for a low back disability was denied as there is no competent medical evidence showing that the condition is related to his time in service.