Back / lumbar spine decisions — 2009

The Veteran's current peripheral neuropathy of the bilateral upper extremities is related to his service-connected diabetes mellitus.

The Board denied service connection for a low back disorder, left and right knee disorders, bilateral hearing loss, and tinnitus as the evidence did not support a finding of a chronic disability in service or continuity of relevant symptomatology.

The Board remands the case for further development of the record, including a new VA examination and obtaining updated treatment records.

The Veteran's cervical spine disability was granted a rating of 30 percent effective November 4, 2008, based on the limitation of flexion to 15 degrees.

The Veteran's right knee, bilateral hip and lumbar spine disorders were found to be aggravated by his service-connected left knee disability.

The Board denied the claims for service connection for a back disability, bilateral leg disability, and depression as there was no competent evidence of a nexus between these conditions and the appellant's active duty.

The Board denied service connection for tinnitus, a psychiatric disorder as secondary to pes planus, and a bilateral knee disability as secondary to pes planus. The 30 percent rating for pes planus was also denied.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for hypertension, a low back disability, and flat feet as new and material evidence was not received to reopen these claims. The Board also denied the veteran's claims for service connection for heat exhaustion and fainting as there is no evidence linking these conditions to his active duty.

The appeal is remanded to obtain the appellant's complete service personnel records, verify her in-service stressors, and obtain a medical opinion.

The appeal is remanded for a hearing before a Veterans Law Judge at the RO.

The appeal is remanded to the RO for further development and adjudication of the claim for service connection for lumbar disc and joint disease.

The Board denied the claims for increased ratings as there was no evidence of severe limitation of motion or other factors that would warrant a higher rating.

The claim is remanded for a VA spine examination to clarify whether the Veteran's reported 'one episode of low back strain' during service caused any current low back disorder.

The appeal is remanded to the RO for additional development, including a new VA examination that accurately addresses the medical evidence of record and considers whether the Veteran's lay statements regarding continuity of symptomatology support a finding of a nexus between the in-service golf cart injury to the back and his present cervical and thoracic spine disorders.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for a lower back disorder as there was no medical evidence linking his current condition to his military service.

The appeal for increased ratings remains before the Board due to a remand for additional development.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for a left hip disability and low back disability as secondary to his service connected knee disabilities, based on the preponderance of the evidence.

The Board denied the veteran's claim for service connection for a low back disorder, finding no evidence of a chronic condition in service or within one year of separation and no credible basis to link the current disability to his active service.

The Veteran's low back disability manifested by spondylosis and left knee disability, including postoperative residuals of a ligament injury with degenerative changes, are service-connected.

The Board granted service connection for scoliosis, finding that the Veteran's preexisting condition was aggravated by his military service.