Back / lumbar spine decisions — 2008

The veteran's initial ratings for cervical and lumbar spine disabilities were increased to 20 percent effective April 14, 2008.

The Board found no evidence of in-service injury or disease related to the veteran's low back disability and denied service connection. The right kidney removal was also not connected to military service.

The Board found that the veteran's back disability and PTSD are not service-connected as they were congenital conditions or did not have a link to in-service stressors, respectively.

The Board found no evidence to support the veteran's claims of service connection for a back disorder and left hip disorder, concluding that there was not enough medical evidence linking these conditions to his military service.

The Board found that the veteran's current back disability is less likely than not related to his time in service, and denied his claim for service connection.

The VA has granted service connection for degenerative disc disease with chronic lumbar strain and assigned a 20 percent evaluation, effective March 2006. The veteran's disability is manifested by normal to slight limitation of motion.

The Board has determined that the veteran's current low back disability, including degenerative disc disease of the lumbar spine at L5-S1 with right sciatica, is related to his active military service and has granted service connection for this condition.

The veteran's appeal is being remanded to obtain additional medical records and to schedule a VA examination for her service-connected lumbar and cervical spine disorders. The case will be reconsidered based on the new evidence.

The Board denied the veteran's claim for an increased rating for his lumbosacral strain, finding that the evidence did not support a disability rating in excess of 40 percent.

The veteran's claims for higher ratings on several service-connected conditions were denied. The Board found that the evidence did not support a higher rating for her chronic lumbosacral strain, as it did not meet the criteria for a 20 percent rating under the General Rating Formula for Diseases and Injuries of the Spine.

The Board has remanded the case due to a need for further development, including obtaining medical records and ensuring compliance with VCAA requirements.

The Board finds that the veteran's current low back disability is not related to his active service and denies his claim for service connection.

The Board granted service connection for osteoarthritis of the lumbar spine and assigned a 20 percent rating, effective from the date of receipt of the veteran's initial claim for benefits.

The veteran's claim for service connection for dizziness was denied.,Service connection for a skin disorder of the back, claimed as athletes foot, was denied.,Service connection for hemorrhoids was denied.,Service connection for bilateral pes planus was denied.,Service connection for a low back disorder other than arthritis (claimed as a muscle injury) was denied.,Service connection for a left foot disorder (claimed as numbness and a cold sensation) was denied.

The veteran's claim for an increased evaluation of her degenerative disc disease of L4-S1 with restricted and painful motion is being remanded due to the need for further development, including a VA examination.

The Board found that the veteran's current low back disorder did not have onset during service, was not otherwise etiologically related to his service, and denied his claim for service connection.

The Board has determined that the submitted evidence does not establish a medical connection between any present back disorder and the veteran's active service. The appeal is denied.

The veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development of his claims, including obtaining post-service VA treatment records and providing VCAA notice.

The Board has remanded the case for further development, including obtaining medical records and determining whether the veteran's psychiatric disorder and low back disability are related to service. The issue of entitlement to a TDIU is also being considered.

The Board denied service connection for a bilateral arm disorder and the veteran's claim of entitlement to compensation under 38 U.S.C.A. § 1151 for an upper back disorder with left arm and shoulder symptoms, finding that there was no evidence linking these conditions to service.