Back / lumbar spine decisions — 2008

The Board has determined that the veteran's cervical spine disability does not warrant a rating in excess of 20 percent, and his left shoulder disability does not warrant a rating in excess of 20 percent.

The Board found no evidence of a back injury in service and concluded that the veteran's degenerative disc disease is not related to his military service.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection and increased rating, finding no new and material evidence to reopen his lumbosacral strain claim and denying both issues.

The Board has reopened the veteran's claim for service connection for a back disability and granted it as secondary to his service-connected right knee and femur disabilities. The effective date is not specified.

The Board has determined that the veteran's low back and left leg disorders are not related to his service, and thus denied both claims.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient evidence regarding the nexus between the veteran's current lumbar spine disability and his service, including a lack of medical evidence connecting the in-service complaints with the current condition.

The Board has determined that the veteran's back disability and dental trauma residuals are not service-connected due to lack of evidence showing their onset during active duty.

The Board has remanded the veteran's claims for service connection and increased evaluation due to incomplete records. The RO is instructed to obtain all relevant VA and private treatment records, including from Dr. Baltes and other health care providers.

The Board has decided that the veteran's claim of entitlement to an increased rating for his service-connected lumbar spine disability requires additional development and a new VA examination.

The VA determined that the veteran's current low back disability is not related to his military service and denied his claim for service connection.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for increased ratings for his service-connected cervical spine, low back, and right shoulder conditions.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for a higher initial evaluation for degenerative joint disease of the lumbar spine, service connection for bilateral hearing loss, and service connection for tinnitus.

The veteran's claims for increased ratings for his cervical and lumbar spine disabilities have been remanded due to insufficient notice, outstanding medical records, and the need for new examinations.

The VA has determined that the veteran's low back strain warrants a 10 percent rating since October 20, 2004. The evidence does not meet the criteria for a higher rating.

The veteran's service-connected left and right hallux valgus disabilities have been granted with a 10% disability rating, but not higher. The lumbar spine disorder issue is not addressed in this decision.

The Board granted a 10 percent evaluation for residuals of the left ankle fracture, effective April 7, 2008. The claim for service connection for HNP of the lumbar spine was denied as new and material evidence had not been received.

The Board has remanded the case for further development due to scheduling a hearing before a Veterans Law Judge at the RO.

The Board has determined that the veteran's low back injury is related to his active service, and thus grants service connection for a low back injury.

The Board has remanded the veteran's claims due to insufficient examination findings and requests for additional medical opinions regarding the etiology of his lumbar spine and knee disorders.

The veteran is seeking service connection for a low back condition and a left leg condition, to include as secondary to the low back condition. The Board finds there is insufficient medical evidence to make a decision on these claims and remands them for further development.