Back / lumbar spine decisions — 2008

The veteran's claim for an increased rating for sinusitis with headaches was granted, allowing a 30 percent rating effective November 16, 2004. The claims for higher ratings for lumbosacral paraspinous strain and DDD of the cervical spine were denied.

The appeal is remanded to the RO for further development, including a VA examination to determine if the veteran's low back disability is related to his service-connected lateral meniscus tear of the right knee.

The Board denied service connection for a lumbosacral spine disorder, finding that the veteran's current low back disorders are not related to military service.

The Board finds that the evidence is in equipoise on whether the veteran's low back disability is causally related to his service-connected right and left knee disabilities, and grants service connection.

The veteran's lumbar disc disease is not shown to be more severe than currently rated at 40 percent.

The Board has reopened the claims for service connection for a thoracolumbar disability and a left shoulder disability, but ultimately denied both on the merits.

The veteran's claims for increased rating and secondary service connection were denied as the evidence did not support a higher disability rating or establish a causal link between his right knee disorder and the claimed conditions.

The veteran's hypertension was granted service connection as it manifested within one year of his discharge from active service.

The veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss, a low back disability, and numbness of the left leg (secondary to the low back disability) are being remanded for additional development.

The Board denied service connection for right leg, low back, and hepatitis C disabilities as the evidence did not support a finding that these conditions were incurred in or aggravated by active duty.

The Board remands the claims for a VA examination to determine if there is a current disability related to an in-service injury.

The Board denied the veteran's claim for service connection for degenerative changes of the lumbar spine, as there was no evidence to support a finding that his condition was incurred in or aggravated by active military service.

The veteran's lumbar degenerative disc disease and left leg sciatic radiculopathy were rated at 10 percent, as the evidence did not support a higher rating.

The veteran's claims for initial evaluations in excess of 20 percent for low back disability, and in excess of 10 percent for degenerative joint disease of the right and left knees are being remanded to schedule additional examinations.

The Board denied an increased rating in excess of 20 percent for the veteran's service-connected upper thoracic strain with degenerative disc disease of L5-S1, as the evidence did not show forward flexion to 30 degrees or less or unfavorable ankylosis.

The Board remands the claims for a VA examination to determine whether the veteran's low back condition and bilateral flat feet were aggravated by service.

The Board found that new and material evidence had been submitted to reopen the claim for service connection for a low back disability, and granted service connection based on the medical opinion that the current degenerative changes of the thoracolumbar spine are related to the veteran's in-service injury.

The veteran's claim for service connection for a low back disorder was reopened, but ultimately denied. The Board also remanded the issue of entitlement to service connection for tinnitus.

The veteran's claims for service connection for a back disorder and left ankle disorder are being remanded for further development, including a VA examination.

The appeal is remanded to the RO for additional development, specifically an opinion on whether the veteran's pre-service low back strain was aggravated by his period of active military service.