Back / lumbar spine decisions — 2008

The veteran's appeals for initial compensable ratings on several shell fragment wound disabilities have been withdrawn. The case is being remanded to determine the severity of his right lower abdominal, right calf, and left cheek shell fragment wounds.

The Board denied an increased rating for duodenal ulcer and denied reopening the claims for service connection for low back and bilateral knee disabilities due to failure of the veteran to report for a VA examination.

The veteran's claim for service connection for a low back disability, claimed as back pain, is being remanded due to the need for a Travel Board hearing.

The Board found that the veteran's current back disorder was not present in service or until years thereafter and is not etiologically related to service. As a result, the claim for service connection for a back disorder was denied.

The Board dismissed the claims because no specific issues were identified in the veteran's Notice of Disagreement (NOD). The veteran and his representative did not clarify which denial they wished to appeal.

The Board has determined that the veteran's neck and back disorders are related to his military service, granting his claims for service connection.

The Board has denied the veteran's claims for service connection for right shoulder and back disabilities, finding no competent evidence linking these conditions to his military service.

The veteran's lumbar disc disease has been rated at 20 percent since September 15, 1997. The RO also granted a total rating based on individual unemployability due to service-connected disability.

The Board has determined that the veteran's low back disability is not related to his active duty service and therefore denied the claim.

The veteran's low back strain with desiccation at L5-S1 has been rated as 20 percent disabling since September 26, 2003.

The Board found that the veteran's current low back disability is not related to service, and thus denied his claim for service connection.

The Board has restored the veteran's original 60% disability rating for his service-connected degenerative disc disease of the lumbar spine, effective October 31, 2002.

The Board found that the veteran's current thoracolumbar spine disorder and psychiatric disorders were not incurred in or aggravated by active service. The VA examiners concluded that there was no relationship between the veteran's current disabilities and his military service.

The Board denied service connection for degenerative joint disease of the cervical spine, right knee, right hip and lumbar spine as these conditions are not shown to be related to service. The claim for an initial rating in excess of 20 percent for hives/angioedema was also denied.

The Board has remanded the veteran's claims for service connection for a right hip disorder and degenerative joint disease of the lumbar spine due to additional development needed, including obtaining Social Security Administration records, providing proper notice, and obtaining clarifying medical opinions.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral shin splints, a right shoulder condition, and a back condition as secondary to his service-connected bilateral knee disability.,There is no competent evidence showing that the veteran's current conditions are related to his service-connected bilateral knee disability.

The Board has granted service connection for a low back strain, finding that the veteran's current disability is related to her right hip bursitis and resolving reasonable doubt in her favor.

The Board has reopened the veteran's claim for service connection for back strain due to new medical evidence showing a current diagnosis of myofascial lumbar syndrome. The Board also found that there is no probative evidence linking the current condition to service.

The Board has denied the veteran's requests to reopen his claims for service connection for a lumbar spine disorder and arthritic changes of the bilateral knee, finding that the new evidence submitted is cumulative and does not relate to an unestablished fact necessary to substantiate the claim.

The veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining outpatient treatment records and scheduling a VA examination to assess the severity of his low back disability.