Back / lumbar spine decisions — 2008

The Board denied the veteran's claims for an increased rating for his lower back pain and service connection for depression due to lack of evidence supporting these claims.

The Board found that the veteran's low back disability is not etiologically related to his active duty service and denied his claim for service connection.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for low back disorder, bilateral knee disorder, bilateral ankle disorder, concussion residuals, and visual impairment. The evidence did not establish a medical nexus between these conditions and active duty.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development due to insufficient notice provided to the veteran.

The Board found no evidence of current hearing loss or a chronic back disorder during service, and denied the veteran's claims for service connection.

The Board has remanded the case to the RO for further action, including scheduling a hearing before the Board.

The Board has decided to remand the case for further examination and evaluation of the veteran's low back disorder, as there is uncertainty regarding its etiology.

The veteran's sciatica of the right lower extremity is currently rated at 20 percent from August 10, 2005.,His arthritis of the lumbar spine is rated at 40 percent effective July 15, 2007.

The Board has remanded the case due to inadequate examination and outstanding VA records. The veteran's claim for an increased rating for his lumbar strain with degenerative changes is on hold until further action can be taken.

The VA denied the veteran's claim for an increased evaluation for his service-connected lumbosacral strain disability, as it did not meet the criteria for a rating higher than 20 percent.

The Board has denied the veteran's petitions to reopen his previously denied claims for service connection for rectal bleeding, cervical and thoracolumbar spine disability(ies), anxiety disorder, tailbone pain, and hernia. The appeals were based on new evidence not previously considered by VA.

The Board dismissed the appeal due to the appellant's withdrawal of the appeal prior to a decision being made.

The Board has granted service connection for DDD of the lumbar spine and assigned a 20% rating, effective from January 1, 2005. The veteran's scoliosis is also found to be related to his service-connected lumbar spine disability. Service connection was denied for right and left knee disorders.

The Board found that the veteran's low back disability was not incurred or aggravated by service, and thus denied his claim for service connection.

The Board has remanded the veteran's claim for an increased rating for his low back disability due to the need for additional evidence and a VA examination.

The veteran's low back disability was initially evaluated as noncompensable from November 26, 1998 through March 5, 2000. From March 6, 2000 to June 27, 2005, the disability warranted a 20 percent rating. Since June 28, 2005, the veteran is rated at 60 percent for spondylolisthesis of the lumbosacral spine with right lower extremity radiculopathy.

The Board found that the veteran's current lumbar, cervical, thoracic spine, bilateral shoulder, bilateral hip, and bilateral leg disabilities are not causally related to his active service or any incident therein.

The veteran's claims for increased evaluations of various service-connected disabilities were denied by the Board. The appeals are not about service connection, but rather about the appropriate disability ratings.

The veteran's claim for an effective date prior to May 3, 1995 for the grant of TDIU is being remanded due to concerns about the precise time frame when he became unemployable.

The Board has determined that new and material evidence has not been received to reopen the veteran's claims for service connection for a skin disorder, low back pain, and hepatitis C.