Back / lumbar spine decisions — 2009

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for compensation under 38 U.S.C. § 1151 for the loss of teeth and receding gums, as there was no evidence that the loss or worsening of these conditions were due to carelessness, negligence, lack of proper skill, error in judgment, or similar instance of fault on the part of VA.

The Veteran's degenerative disc disease of the lumbosacral spine does not warrant a rating in excess of 20 percent, and his psychiatric disability was not incurred in or aggravated by active service.

The Board found that the Veteran's low back disorder was not causally or etiologically related to service.

The Board granted service connection for a low back disorder, resolving all reasonable doubt in the Veteran's favor and finding that his current condition is etiologically linked to an in-service back injury.

The Board found that the preponderance of the evidence was against a finding that the Veteran's low back disorder was related to service or his service-connected right knee disorder.

The Board denied the claim for service connection for a low back disability as there was no evidence of a relationship between the current disability and an injury, disease, or event in service.

The appeal is remanded for additional development, including VA examinations to determine the nature and etiology of the Veteran's claimed conditions.

The appeal is remanded to the RO for further development and readjudication of the Veteran's claims.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for degenerative disc disease of the lumbosacral spine, arthritis of the right knee, and bilateral hearing loss were denied as the evidence did not support higher ratings.

The veteran's lumbar spine, right knee, and left knee disabilities do not meet the criteria for higher ratings.

The Board remands the claims for service connection for back and left hip disabilities to schedule a VA examination and obtain relevant records from SSA.

The Board denied service connection for a skin rash with a cyst on the face, finding no evidence of a current disability or a link to service.

The appellant's claims of entitlement to service connection for pseudofolliculitis barbae, a low back disorder, and an increased rating for his left shoulder, left ankle, and right ankle disorders are being remanded for further development.

The Board denied the appellant's claim for service connection for a lumbar spine disorder, including arthritis, as there was no evidence of a nexus between any in-service event and his current condition.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for degenerative disc disease with herniated nucleus pulposus at L4-S1, radiculopathy of the left lower extremity, and right shoulder separation/Bankart lesion were denied as the evidence did not support higher ratings.

The appeal is remanded to the RO for further development, specifically to obtain additional service treatment records from Eisenhower Army Medical Center.

The Veteran's service-connected degenerative disc disease, L5-S1 is rated at 10 percent and the Board finds that a higher rating is not warranted.

The appeal was denied for tinnitus, but the claim for a low back disorder was reopened due to new and material evidence.

The Board finds that new and material evidence has been submitted to reopen the claim of service connection for a back disorder, and grants service connection for a lumbar spine disability manifested by pain and degenerative changes including the residuals of a 'strained muscle' and a compression fracture of the L1 vertebra.

The Board remands the claims for a low back, left arm, and left shoulder disorder to the RO via the Appeals Management Center (AMC) for further development and consideration.