Back / lumbar spine decisions — 2008

The Board has determined that service connection is not warranted for the claimed disabilities, including bilateral ankle and elbow disabilities. The veteran's complaints of pain have not been supported by clinical findings or diagnoses.

The Board has determined that the veteran does not have diagnoses of certain conditions, and there is no competent medical evidence linking his military service to any current disabilities. Therefore, these claims for service connection are denied.

The Board has determined that the veteran's currently diagnosed bilateral thigh neuropathy disorder, back disorder, and sleep disorder are not due to carelessness, negligence, lack of proper skill, or similar instance of fault on the part of VA in furnishing medical treatment. Therefore, compensation benefits under 38 U.S.C.A. § 1151 for these conditions have been denied.

The veteran's appeal is remanded due to procedural deficiencies and the need for a VA examination to assess his employability.

The Board has determined that the veteran's claimed lumbar and cervical spine disorders are not related to his active service, and thus denied both claims.

The veteran's claim for an increased rating for his service-connected low back injury with bulging disc is being remanded due to the need for a new VA examination and additional VCAA notification.

The Board has reopened the veteran's claim of entitlement to service connection for a low back disorder and granted service connection based on evidence showing that her current diagnosis is related to military service.

The veteran withdrew his appeals for headaches, cervical sprain and strain, and lumbar sprain and strain.

The Board has determined that a remand is necessary to obtain additional medical examination and information regarding the veteran's lumbar spine disability, including any associated neurological complaints.

The veteran's appeal is being remanded due to his request for a rescheduled hearing. The issues of entitlement to higher initial ratings for right ankle and low back disabilities remain on appeal.

The Board finds that the veteran's service-connected lower leg disabilities did not cause his current low back condition.,The claim for service connection for a testicular disorder is granted as new and material evidence has been received.

The Board found that the veteran's current degenerative disc disease and degenerative joint disease of the lumbar spine were not incurred in or aggravated by service, and thus denied his claim for service connection.

The VA denied the veteran's claim for an evaluation in excess of 10 percent for his degenerative disc disease, lumbar spine. The appeal is not about service connection for PTSD.

The Board has determined that the veteran's claims to reopen his service connection for bilateral degenerative joint disease of the knees, hips, and lumbosacral spine have not been substantiated by new and material evidence. The RO denied these claims in July 2003, and no new or additional evidence was received within one year of that decision.

The Board finds that the veteran's spondylolisthesis was aggravated by an injury during service, and grants service connection for a low back disability.

The Board has determined that the veteran's low back condition was not incurred in or aggravated by service and is not proximately due to or the result of his service-connected bilateral pes planus.

The veteran's service-connected low back strain disability is currently rated at 40 percent, but the Board finds that it does not meet the criteria for a higher rating based on the current evidence of record.

The Board has determined that there is no evidence of a right knee, low back, or left hip disorder during service and the competent medical opinion is against any causal link to service. As such, service connection for these conditions is denied.

The veteran's lumbar spine disorder is currently rated at 40 percent, effective November 26, 2001. The Board has not decided the merits of his claim for service connection for stuttering as it relates to reopening a previously denied claim.

The Board has determined that the veteran's claimed left knee, neck, and back disorders are not related to service. The tinnitus claim is also denied.