Back / lumbar spine decisions — 2008

The veteran's service-connected disabilities, including major depressive disorder and other physical conditions, have rendered her unable to secure or follow substantially gainful employment. The Board has determined that she is entitled to a TDIU.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for increased ratings, finding that his lumbar spine disorder did not meet the criteria for a disability rating in excess of 40 percent and that radiculopathy of the left lower extremity warranted a compensable rating.

The Board has determined that new and material evidence has been received to reopen the veteran's claim for service connection for low back disability, including as secondary to bilateral knee disability. The case is remanded for further development.

The Board found no evidence linking the veteran's current back, kidney, and heart disabilities to his military service. Therefore, the claims for service connection were denied.

The Board denied service connection for PTSD and a back disability, finding that the veteran did not have these conditions during his active duty or due to an in-service injury. The evidence showed no nexus between current low back symptoms and service.

The Board has determined that the veteran does not have current heart disease or disability. The veteran's peripheral vascular disease is related to his service-connected diabetes, but there is no evidence of a current diagnosis of heart disease or upper extremity neuropathy. The veteran's lumbar radiculopathy and burn scar are not established.

The veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional evaluations of her service-connected right shoulder, lumbar spine, and skin disorders due to new information in the medical record.

The Board found no evidence of a current chronic disability related to service and denied the veteran's claim for service connection for a low back condition.

The Board has remanded the veteran's claims for service connection due to incomplete records and need for further examination. The claims will be reconsidered after all necessary information is obtained.

The Board has denied the veteran's claims for service connection for lumbar disc disease and right hip disability, finding no evidence linking these conditions to his military service.

The Board has denied the veteran's claims for increased ratings for his knee, shin, and foot disabilities. The evidence does not support a finding of service connection for these conditions.

The Board found no evidence of a current bilateral knee or lumbar spine disability and denied service connection for these conditions based on the absence of medical evidence showing their existence.

The Board has remanded the case for further development due to the veteran's request to upgrade his discharge characterization and other procedural issues.

The veteran's lumbosacral strain was rated at 20% prior to August 27, 2007, and at 10% from that date. The thoracic spine disorder is not service-connected, nor is the cervical spine disorder.

The Board denied service connection for a lumbar spine disorder and mantle cell lymphoma, finding no evidence of in-service injury or exposure to Agent Orange.,Service connection was not granted due to lack of presumptive service connection for the lymphoma.

The Board found that the veteran's current degenerative joint disease of the lumbosacral spine is not related to his service, and denied his claim for service connection.

The veteran's appeal is remanded to the RO for issuance of a SOC in the matter of restoration of service connection for PTSD. The RO must secure all treatment records from the Vet Center and any other sources identified by the veteran, including those following his bus accident in 1983. A VA examination will be arranged to determine if any current low back disability is related to military service.

The Board has remanded the veteran's claims due to the need for additional development of his medical records and a VA examination.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development due to a failure to comply with Kent v. Nicholson requirements and to advise the veteran of what evidence would substantiate his petition to reopen his claim of service connection for lumbosacral strain.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for upper and lower extremity disabilities, finding no relationship between these conditions and his military service or any already service-connected disability.