Back / lumbar spine decisions — 2009

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for lumbar spine arthritis, finding that there was no evidence linking the current condition to his active military service.

The May 2004 rating decision was not clearly and unmistakably erroneous in assigning an effective date of March 1, 2004, for the increased ratings.

The Board denied the veteran's claim for service connection for mild degenerative changes, lumbosacral spine, as there was no medical evidence to support a link between the current condition and his military service.

The veteran's claims for service connection for bipolar disorder, a back disability, and arthritis have been remanded for a Travel Board hearing.

The Board denied the Veteran's appeal for an increased rating for degenerative changes of the lumbar spine with low back pain and progressive numbness affecting the left lower extremity, as the disability was found to be manifested by disability tantamount to pronounced intervertebral disc syndrome with persistent symptoms compatible with sciatic neuropathy, with little intermittent relief.

The appeal is remanded to the RO for additional development, including a new VA examination.

The Board denied the veteran's claim for service connection for a back disability as there was no competent medical evidence of a link between his current back disorder and military service.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for a low back disorder, bilateral knee disorder, and left ankle disorder as they were not etiologically related to active service or a service-connected disability.

The Board found that the Veteran's cervical spine disability was related to an in-service motor vehicle accident, but his lumbar spine disability was not related to any incident of service.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not meet the criteria for a certificate of eligibility for financial assistance in acquiring specially adapted housing.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for a low back disability, to include muscle strain, degenerative arthritis, and degenerative disc disease of the lumbar spine.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for a low back disability, finding that the preponderance of the evidence demonstrated that his current back disability was due to a fall in 1997 during civilian employment and not related to active duty.

The Veteran is entitled to special monthly pension based on the need for regular aid and attendance, but not to a certificate of eligibility for financial assistance in the purchase of an automobile or other conveyance, or adaptive equipment.

The Board has reopened the claims for service connection for a lower back disorder and residuals of a right leg fracture, but ultimately denied both on the merits.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for higher initial evaluations for his thoracolumbar, right shoulder, and wrist disabilities as well as service connection for knee arthralgia, an eye disability, and gouty arthritis.

The claim for an earlier effective date for service connection for low back strain was denied as the earliest possible effective date is September 18, 2002.

The appeal is remanded for additional development, including a new VA examination to determine the current severity of the Veteran's service-connected conditions.

The appeal is remanded to reschedule a Travel Board hearing regarding the Veteran's claims for service connection and applications to reopen.

The Board denied the veteran's claim for service connection for lumbar spine degenerative disc disease as there was no nexus between the current condition and his service.

The appeal is remanded for additional development, including a new VA examination to determine the current severity of the Veteran's service-connected lumbar spine disability.