Back / lumbar spine decisions — 2008

The veteran's claims for service connection for various conditions, including bilateral blurry vision with a right eye cataract, bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, and hip disability were denied. The Board found that the current disabilities are not related to service.

The Board denied the veteran's claims of service connection for diabetes mellitus, skin condition, low back disability, bilateral hearing loss, and tinnitus. The evidence did not establish a current diagnosis or link these conditions to service.

The Board is remanding the case to the RO for further development due to incomplete evidence and need for a VA medical examination.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including obtaining relevant records from Pony Express and Kemper National Services, Inc., associated with the veteran's employment from 1983 to 1996. The claim will be readjudicated after this development.

The veteran is seeking service connection for a degenerative disc disorder of the lower back. The Board has remanded the case due to additional development needed, including obtaining Social Security Administration records.

The veteran's claims for increased ratings for degenerative arthritis of the lumbar spine and degenerative disc disease of the cervical spine were denied as his conditions did not warrant a rating in excess of 20 percent.

The Board denied service connection for a right ankle disorder, a right knee disorder, and a low back disorder as secondary to the veteran's service-connected left ankle Achilles tendonitis.,The evidence did not support a finding of current disabilities in any of these conditions.

The veteran's low back disability, characterized as back strain with degenerative disc disease, is rated at 20 percent under the General Rating Formula for Diseases and Injuries of the Spine.

The Board found that the veteran's current low back disorder was not incurred in or aggravated by his military service and denied his claim for service connection.

The Board has determined that the veteran's knee and lumbosacral strain conditions are appropriately rated, and no increased ratings are warranted.

The Board found that sinusitis was not incurred in or aggravated by the veteran's period of active duty and denied service connection for this condition.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for lumbosacral strain and bilateral hearing loss, finding no evidence of a chronic condition during service or related to service.

The Board has remanded the case for further development to determine if the appellant's lumbar spine disability is related to his military service, including any potential aggravation of a pre-existing condition.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for a low back disorder and an increased rating for residuals of left mandible fracture, finding that there was no evidence to support these claims.

The veteran's DDD of the lumbar spine with chronic low back pain has been manifested by forward flexion of the thoracolumbar spine greater than 30 degrees but not greater than 60 degrees, and no ankylosis. The medical evidence does not document any incapacitating episodes or separately ratable neurological manifestations that would warrant a higher rating.

The Board has remanded the case for further development, including obtaining Social Security Administration (SSA) records and sending VCAA notice.

The veteran withdrew his appeal for an increased rating of service-connected arthritis of the lumbar spine.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for various conditions, including cervical spine strain with degenerative disc disease, thoracolumbosacral spine strain with degenerative changes, tension headaches, right upper and left upper extremity carpal tunnel syndromes, an acquired psychiatric disorder (including depression, dysthymia, and bipolar disorder), right shoulder disability, left shoulder disability, right knee disability, and right hip disability. The Board found that the veteran's pre-existing right knee disability was not aggravated by service.

The veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development of her claims, including VA examinations to assess the severity of her hemorrhoids and lumbar spine disability.

The Board has determined that further development is needed to ensure the veteran's claim for service connection for a back disability is properly considered, including obtaining relevant medical records and providing proper VCAA notice.