Back / lumbar spine decisions — 2008

The Board has denied the veteran's claims for service connection for cervical and thoracic spine disabilities, as well as a left shoulder disability. The veteran was granted service connection for recurrent major depression.

The Board has denied the veteran's claims of service connection for left knee disability, right knee disability, and low back disability due to lack of new and material evidence. The veteran's current disabilities are not related to his military service.

The Board found no link between the veteran's current low back disability and his active duty service, thus denying his claim for service connection.

The veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining Social Security Administration records and medical documentation relied upon in the award of disability benefits.

The Board has determined that the veteran does not have a cervical spine disability that is due to disease or injury incurred in service, and it is less likely than not caused by her service-connected degenerative disc disease of the lumbar spine.

The VA has granted service connection for lumbosacral strain and assigned a 10 percent evaluation, effective December 13, 2003. The veteran's appeal is denied as he does not meet the criteria for an increased rating.

The Board found no evidence linking the veteran's current back disorder to his service, and thus denied his claim for service connection.

The Board has determined that new evidence received since the last denial supports a finding of service connection for intervertebral disc disease of the lumbar spine with sciatica, which is related to an in-service motor vehicle accident.

The veteran's initial mood disorder rating is denied as it does not meet the criteria for a higher rating. The service-connected compression fractures of T12 and L3 with degenerative disc disease are currently rated at 20 percent, which is the maximum schedular evaluation available.

The Board found that the veteran's lumbar spine disability, characterized by forward flexion to 20 and 30 degrees without thoracolumbar or entire spine ankylosis, does not meet the criteria for a higher evaluation.

The veteran's claims for bilateral hearing loss, vision disability (macular degeneration), chronic skin disorder, prostate disorder, and low back disorder were denied as not related to his active service.

The VA denied a disability rating in excess of 40 percent for the veteran's chronic lumbosacral strain with degenerative disc disease from March 16, 2006.

The Board has determined that additional development is needed to address the veteran's claims for service connection, including obtaining medical records and conducting an audiological examination.

The Board found that the veteran's tinnitus, body cramping, low back disability, PTSD, and skin disability were not incurred or aggravated by service. The Board also noted that his exposure to noise during service was presumed due to his service in Vietnam.

The veteran withdrew her appeals for the issues of service connection for residuals of a laceration to the left middle finger, sinusitis, and an increased evaluation for headaches. The case is remanded for further development regarding the low back disorder.

The veteran's schizophrenia was granted service connection, but his back conditions, hypertension, kidney condition, sinusitis, and bilateral foot condition were denied.

The veteran's service-connected degenerative disc disease of the lumbar spine is currently rated at 20 percent, and his bowel incontinence and bladder incontinence are each rated as 10 percent. The Board found that these evaluations were not warranted based on the evidence provided.

The Board denied service connection for multiple conditions, including headaches, lumbosacral strain, left hip strain, allergic rhinitis (claimed as nose/sinus condition), pes planus of the right foot, hemorrhoids, and disability manifested by dizziness.

The veteran's appeal is being remanded for further examination and development of his claims, including a review of VA outpatient treatment records.

The Board denied service connection for lumbar and cervical disc diseases due to a lack of medical evidence linking the conditions to military service.