Back / lumbar spine decisions — 2009

The Board has denied the veteran's claims for service connection for a low back disorder, hypothyroidism, and right leg disability. The evidence does not support a finding that these conditions were incurred in or aggravated by service.

The Board has determined that the Veteran does not have a hearing loss disability for VA purposes and therefore, service connection for bilateral hearing loss is denied. The claim for service connection for a back condition remains pending.

The Board denied service connection for the Veteran's claimed conditions, including bilateral hearing loss, tinea pedis, lower back condition, and PTSD. The claims for service connection for a shoulder condition were referred to the RO.

The Veteran's lumbar strain has been rated at 20 percent since October 18, 2005. The RO denied an increased rating for his residuals of a right inguinal herniorrhaphy and plantar fasciitis.

The Veteran's degenerative joint disease of the lumbar spine does not meet the criteria for an evaluation in excess of 20 percent disabling. The current rating remains at 20 percent.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims due to inadequate examination reports and missing VA outpatient treatment records. The Veteran needs a comprehensive VA examination to determine the etiology of his claimed disabilities.

The Board has remanded the case for further development, including obtaining a VA examination to determine if the Veteran's current low back disability and bilateral hearing loss are related to his military service.

The Veteran's claims for service connection are being remanded due to the need for additional medical examinations and opinions regarding his left ankle disability and low back disability.

The Veteran's claims for service connection were denied as his claimed conditions are not related to his military service.

The Board found that the Veteran's lumbar spine disability warranted a 40 percent rating prior to September 29, 2004, but not thereafter. The compensable ratings for the pelvis and right femur were also denied.

The Veteran's current low back disability is not related to service, and the Board finds that it was less likely than not caused by or aggravated by a condition incurred in service.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's current low back disability was not incurred in or aggravated by service and may not be presumed due to his military service. The evidence does not support a link between the Veteran's in-service injury and his current condition.

The Veteran's claim for a higher rating for his service-connected low back disability is being remanded due to the need for proper notification and consideration of staged ratings. The case will be returned to the Board after the AOJ addresses these issues.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for a low back disability and TDIU were denied by the RO. The Board has remanded the case to obtain additional evidence, including SSA records and VA treatment records.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for a low back condition, including arthritis, finding that it was not incurred in or aggravated by service and is not secondary to his service-connected traumatic arthritis of the left knee.

The Veteran's right lower extremity radiculopathy has been rated at a 40 percent since January 6, 2004. The left lower extremity and low back strain with disc herniation issues have not yet been addressed as they were withdrawn by the appellant.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's neck and back disorders are not related to service, as they were either congenital or preexisting conditions. The Veteran's current symptoms do not meet the criteria for service connection.

The Board granted an increased disability rating of 10 percent for low back sprain and a 30 percent disability rating for bilateral pes planus, effective from the date of the decision.

The appeal was withdrawn by the appellant before the Board promulgated a decision.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings and service connection were denied, with no new and material evidence found to reopen previously denied claims.