Back / lumbar spine decisions — 2009

The veteran withdrew the appeal before the Board promulgated a decision.

The claim for service connection for a back disability was reopened and denied.

The appeal is remanded to the agency of original jurisdiction for further development and readjudication.

The Board denied the claim for service connection for a back condition as new and material evidence was not received, but reopened the claim for arthritis of the hips as new and material evidence was found.

The Board is remanding the Veteran's claim for a lumbar spine disability to ensure that all relevant evidence is considered and an appropriate medical opinion is obtained.

The appeal is remanded to the RO for further development of evidence, including scheduling VA examinations.

The claims for service connection for residuals of a right shoulder contusion and back disorder were reopened based on new and material evidence, but further development is needed to decide the underlying merits.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for a low back disability, as there was no evidence of a relationship between his current degenerative disc disease and his military service.

The case is being remanded to the RO for scheduling a hearing before a Veterans Law Judge in accordance with the Veteran's request.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss disability was incurred during active military service.

The Board remands the claim for an additional medical opinion to address whether the Veteran's lumbar strain is secondary to his service-connected degenerative joint disease of the knees.

The Board found that the preponderance of the evidence is against entitlement to service connection for low back disability.

The Board remanded the case to obtain a more thorough medical examination addressing whether the Veteran's service-connected right knee disability has aggravated his left knee and low back disabilities.

The Veteran withdrew his appeal for all issues on appeal, and the Board has no jurisdiction to decide these benefits.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for increased ratings, finding that the evidence did not support higher ratings for bilateral hearing loss, left medial malleolus fracture, and left knee disorder. The low back strain was rated at 40 percent from October 24, 2003, to November 11, 2003, but no higher thereafter.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection and increased ratings, finding that the evidence did not support a connection between his current disabilities and military service or warrant higher disability ratings.

The Board denied service connection for a back disorder, neck disorder, shoulder disorder, right hip disorder, right leg disorder, bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, and an anxiety disorder as there is no competent medical evidence of record showing current diagnoses or that the disorders are related to active military service.

The Board granted service connection for a low back disability, but denied service connection for right and left ankle, hip, and knee disabilities, as well as a fungal infection of the ears. The claim for an increased rating for bilateral hearing loss was also denied.

The Veteran's low back disability was evaluated as 10 percent disabling, and the Board found that an initial rating in excess of 10 percent for a low back disability had not been met.

The Veteran's low back disability is not shown to be more severe than currently rated at 20 percent, as the evidence does not support a finding of incapacitating episodes or other symptoms that would warrant a higher rating.