Back / lumbar spine decisions — 2009

The appeal is remanded to the RO for additional development, including obtaining updated medical records and a new VA examination.

The veteran's claims for service connection for a psychiatric disorder, low back disorder, and right eye disorder were denied as there was no evidence of current disabilities or a link to service. The claim for an initial compensable evaluation for bilateral hearing loss was also denied.

The Veteran's service-connected neuropathy of the right and left lower extremities is characterized by moderately severe impairment due to weakness, diminished and absent reflexes and sensation, and resulting gait abnormalities. The Board finds that the criteria for a disability rating of 40 percent have been met.

The Veteran's claims for a higher rating for his left ankle disability and service connection for cervical spine, lumbosacral spine, and right ankle disabilities were denied as the evidence did not support an increase in severity or a finding of service connection.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings were denied as the evidence did not support higher ratings for his degenerative disc disease of the lumbar spine, radiculopathy, and pes planus conditions.

The claims for service connection for a cervical spine disability, lumbar spine disability, and headaches were remanded to the RO for further development.

The appeal was granted to reopen the claim for service connection, but the claim for service connection itself was denied.

The Board granted service connection for degenerative disc disease of the thoracolumbar spine and scoliosis, but denied service connection for degenerative disc disease of the cervical spine.

The Board found that the preponderance of evidence was against service connection for a heart condition, osteoarthritis of the lumbar spine, headaches, and COPD.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for a back disorder and bilateral hip disorder, finding that there was no evidence of an etiological relationship between these conditions and either service or his service-connected knee disorders.

The Board denied service connection for a low back disability, bilateral leg disability, including bilateral stasis dermatitis, and arthritis of the feet as they were not incurred in or aggravated by active service.

The Board denied an increased evaluation for degenerative joint disease of the left knee and found that a timely substantive appeal was not filed for lumbar facet arthropathy.

The appeal is remanded to the RO for further development and readjudication of the Veteran's claim for service connection for residuals of a low back disability.

The Board denied service connection for the cause of the Veteran's death and denied DIC under 38 U.S.C. § 1318, as there was no evidence linking the Veteran's fatal disease process to his period of military service or any of his service-connected disabilities.

The Veteran's claims for increased disability evaluations were denied as the evidence did not meet the criteria for a compensable or higher evaluation for his cervical spine spondylosis, thoracolumbar spine spondylosis, right (major) shoulder osteoarthritis, right hip and left hip osteoarthritis, right knee and left knee osteoarthritis, right first metatarsophalangeal joint degenerative arthritic changes, left first metatarsophalangeal joint degenerative arthritic changes, and bilateral pes planus.

The Board denied the veteran's claim for service connection for a back disability, as there was no evidence that he was on active duty or approved for ACDUTRA or INACDUTRA during the time of his alleged injury in 1973.

The Board denied service connection for degenerative disc disease of the lumbar spine, finding that it was not related to the Veteran's service or his service-connected bilateral foot disability.

The Board denied service connection for a low back disorder, bilateral ankle disorder, and right knee disorder as they were not shown to be related to the Veteran's active duty or secondary to his service-connected left knee disability.

The veteran's chronic low back pain did not meet the criteria for a rating higher than 10 percent at any time since July 26, 2002.

The Board found that the Veteran does not have a current back disability related to service, as there is no medical evidence of a diagnosis or chronicity of symptoms.