Back / lumbar spine decisions — 2009

The Board denied the claims for service connection for bilateral pes planus with plantar fasciitis, a low back disability, a bilateral knee disability, a neck disability, and headaches as new and material evidence was not received to reopen the claim for pes planus, and there is no competent evidence of current disabilities or etiological links to service.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings and service connection were denied as the evidence did not support higher ratings or additional service-connected disabilities.

The Board denied the Veteran's petition to reopen a service connection claim for degenerative disc disease, cervical spine as new and material evidence was not received.

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

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for a low back disability and a stomach or intestinal disability, as there was no evidence that these conditions were caused or aggravated by his active service.

The appeal is remanded for a new VA examination to assess the current status of the Veteran's service-connected lumbar degenerative disc disease, including any radiculopathy.

The Veteran's service connection for a right knee disability was granted, while the evaluations for bilateral tinnitus and degenerative disc disease (DDD) L4-5 with L4-5 radiculopathy were denied.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for increased ratings for degenerative disc disease, L5-S1 and strain of lumbar spine, degenerative joint disease and strain of the left knee, and carpal tunnel syndrome, right wrist and hand.

The Board's November 1984 decision denying service connection for a back disorder was found not to contain clear and unmistakable error.

The Board remands the claim for further development, including obtaining additional medical evidence and a new examination.

The Board granted service connection for a low back disorder and a cervical spine disorder, finding that the appellant's current diagnoses are related to his military service.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for a back disability, as there was no evidence of a chronic back disability in service or within one year after discharge, and current back disability is not related to service.

The claims for service connection for cervical and lumbar spine disorders are remanded due to the need for verification of the Appellant's National Guard service dates and character, as well as a medical opinion regarding aggravation.

The Board found that the Veteran's low back disability was not incurred in or aggravated by active military service, and denied service connection for a low back disability. The Board also found that the criteria for an initial disability rating in excess of 10 percent for adjustment disorder with depressed mood from October 24, 2001 to September 14, 2006, and in excess of 30 percent from September 15, 2006, were not met.

The Board remands the claims for additional VA examinations to determine the current severity of the Veteran's service-connected cervical and thoracolumbar spine disabilities, as well as the nature and etiology of his left shoulder, skin, and mental disorders.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for a lumbar spine disability and a cervical spine disability, finding no evidence of an increase in severity during service or a causal relationship to service.

The appeal for an increased evaluation for low back syndrome was denied as the evidence did not support a rating in excess of 20 percent.

The Board denied an increased rating for the Veteran's low back disability, finding that the evidence did not support a higher evaluation based on the criteria for evaluating diseases and injuries of the spine.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for a left knee condition, chronic conjunctivitis, and chest pain/shortness of breath were denied as new and material evidence was not submitted. The claim for an increased rating for the lower back disability was also denied.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for a low back disorder, finding no probative medical evidence linking his current condition to military service.