Back / lumbar spine decisions — 2009

The Board has determined that the Veteran's claimed cervical spine and lumbar spine disabilities did not manifest within one year of service, and there is no evidence linking these conditions to his military service. The claim for service connection is denied.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for hypertension, a low back disorder, and knee disorders. The decision also addressed whether new and material evidence had been received to reopen his claim of service connection for a low back strain.

The Board found no evidence of a chronic lower back disorder during service and denied the Veteran's claim for service connection.

The Veteran's service-connected lumbar spine DDD is currently rated as 10 percent disabling prior to November 28, 2005 and 20 percent disabling on or after that date.,The Veteran's service-connected cervical spine DDD is currently rated as 20 percent disabling.

The Board has reopened the claims for service connection for chronic bilateral hip disorder, low back disorder, and right foot disorder secondary to left ankle fracture. However, these claims were ultimately denied as there is no evidence of a direct relationship between the claimed conditions and active military service.

The Veteran's sleep apnea and hypertension were not incurred in service or as a result of his service-connected disabilities.,VA medical examinations did not find any link between the Veteran's current conditions and his active service.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for right knee and low back disorders, finding that these conditions were not caused or made worse by his service-connected left knee disability.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for further development due to recent surgery. The issues of increased ratings for lumbar spine degenerative disc disease and right lower extremity radiculopathy are pending.

The Board found that the Veteran's lumbosacral strain myositis, L4-L5 disc herniation did not manifest as a result of his military service and denied entitlement to service connection for this condition. The claim for bilateral hearing loss was remanded due to insufficient evidence.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for scar tissue in the cervical spine, lumbar spine, and right hip arthritis have been denied. The case is remanded to obtain additional medical records and to schedule the Veteran for a VA examination.

The Board found that the Veteran's current back disorder is not related to his military service and denied his claim for service connection.

The Board has determined that new and material evidence has been presented to reopen the claim of service connection for degenerative joint disease of the lumbar spine. The veteran's current back condition is found to be related to an in-service motor vehicle accident, which resulted in a contusion of the left kidney. As such, service connection is granted.

The Board has remanded the case to the RO for further proceedings due to failure to discuss certain evidence and to clarify a specific record.

The Veteran's arthritis of the lumbosacral spine is currently rated at 40 percent, but does not meet the criteria for a higher evaluation due to lack of incapacitating episodes or unfavorable ankylosis. The Veteran's TDIU claim was also denied.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for a back disorder and entitlement to an earlier effective date for the grant of service connection for Briquet's syndrome. The Veteran's current back disorder was not incurred in or aggravated by active duty, and there is no clear and unmistakable evidence that it existed prior to service.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including verification of periods of active duty for training and inactive duty training in the Army Reserve. The Veteran's low back disorder is currently under review to determine its etiology.

The Veteran's claim for an increase in the evaluation of his service-connected lumbosacral strain with degenerative disc disease was granted, and he is now receiving a 40 percent evaluation effective from July 31, 2000.

The Board denied an initial or staged disability rating in excess of 10 percent for degenerative disc disease of L4-5 and whether an initial or staged compensable rating is warranted for left lower extremity radiculopathy and any other neurological deficit associated with the Veteran's degenerative disc disease of the lumbar spine.

The Veteran's claim for increased ratings for degenerative disc disease at L5-S1 and radicular symptomatology in the right lower extremity was denied. The Veteran is currently rated at 40 percent for his lumbar spine disability, effective October 31, 2008.

The Veteran's appeals for increased ratings on several service-connected disabilities have been withdrawn. The Board does not have jurisdiction to decide these claims.