Back / lumbar spine decisions — 2008

The Board denied service connection for a low back disorder and psychiatric disability, finding no evidence of such conditions during or within one year after service. The examiner opined that any current psychiatric disability is not at least as likely as not related to service.

The veteran's low back disorder was rated at 20 percent from February 6, 1992 to June 10, 1993. After that date, he is rated at 40 percent for the orthopedic manifestations of his service-connected lumbar diskectomy.

The Board found no evidence of a back disorder in service or for many years thereafter, and thus denied the veteran's claim for service connection.

The veteran's appeal has been withdrawn, and the case is dismissed.

The Board has granted service connection for the veteran's cluster type headaches as secondary to his service-connected post-traumatic stress disorder with major depressive disorder.

The Board has granted an initial evaluation of 20 percent for the veteran's lumbosacral herniated nucleus pulposus post discetomy with radiculopathy from October 1, 2001 through June 27, 2002. A separate 10 percent evaluation is assigned for left lower extremity radiculopathy.

The Board found that the veteran's left knee disorder did not manifest during service or within a year after discharge, and is not related to his active service. The lumbosacral spine disorder was also not shown to be related to service.

Your claim for service connection of a back disorder has been remanded due to incorrect information used in the initial development. The RO needs to use the correct birth date, social security number, and service number to properly develop your case.

The Board dismissed the appeal due to lack of a timely and relevant substantive appeal.

The veteran is seeking a higher rating for his service-connected low back disability, which currently results in a 40 percent evaluation. The Board has determined that additional development of the claim is required due to missing VA and private treatment records, as well as incomplete VCAA notice.

The Board has determined that the veteran's low back disorder and acquired psychiatric disorder, including depression, are at least as likely as not related to his military service. Therefore, both claims for service connection have been granted.

The Board denied the veteran's claim for service connection for residuals of a low back injury and his request for an earlier effective date for increased pension benefits. The evidence submitted since the previous denial was found to be insufficient to reopen the claim.

The veteran's claim for an initial rating in excess of 10 percent for service-connected lumbar disc disease is being remanded due to the need for a more contemporaneous examination and additional VA treatment records.

The Board denied the veteran's claim for an initial rating in excess of 10 percent for his service-connected DDD of the lumbar spine, finding that the effective date assigned was appropriate.

The Board found that the veteran's tinnitus was not incurred during service and denied his claim for increased evaluation of low back strain with degenerative changes. The current rating of 20% is deemed adequate.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including obtaining medical records and attempting to correct errors in the claim file.

The veteran's claims for service connection for a lumbosacral spine disorder and right hip pain have been granted. The claim for peripheral neuropathy remains denied, as does the claim for hypertension. Service connection has also not been established for coronary artery disease.

The Board has denied the veteran's claim for service connection for a neck condition, finding that there is no record of treatment or diagnosis related to cervical spine degenerative arthritis and degenerative disc disease during military service.

The Board has determined that there is no competent medical evidence showing a nexus between the veteran's current disabilities and his active service.

The Board has determined that the veteran does not have a current diagnosis of a back disorder or tinnitus, and thus cannot establish service connection for these conditions.