Back / lumbar spine decisions — 2009

The Veteran's lumbosacral strain is rated at 10 percent, as the evidence shows localized tenderness and intermittent flare-ups that limit work performance.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for a skin condition of the hands was reopened, but denied. Service connection was granted for peripheral neuropathy of the hands and feet as secondary to diabetes mellitus, type II, but denied for a low back disorder.

The Board denied the application to reopen the claim for service connection for a back disorder, as new and material evidence was not submitted.

The appeal is remanded for further development and adjudication of the Veteran's claims.

The Board denied service connection for degenerative joint disease of both lower and upper extremities, cervical spine, lumbar spine, respiratory disability, psychiatric disorder, and pes planus as there was no evidence to support a finding that these conditions were incurred in or aggravated by active service.

The Board remands the claims for a back disorder and bilateral hearing loss to the RO for further development, including VA examinations.

The Board denied service connection for a chronic back disability, kidney disability (incontinence), and hearing loss as there was no evidence linking these conditions to the Veteran's active military service.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, a bilateral hip disorder, a bilateral knee disorder, a back disorder, a bilateral ankle disorder, asthma, and emphysema were denied as there was no evidence of current disability or a link to service.

The Board granted service connection for degenerative changes of the lumbar spine and denied service connection for other multiple joint pain.

The Board denied the Veteran's service connection claim for a low back disability with degenerative disc disease of the lumbar spine, as there was no evidence to support that his current condition was related to an in-service injury or event.

The veteran's lumbosacral strain did not meet the criteria for a rating in excess of 20 percent from September 26, 2003 to October 27, 2006 and did not meet the criteria for a rating in excess of 40 percent from October 28, 2006.

The Board denied service connection for a low back disability, finding no evidence of a nexus between the Veteran's current condition and his active military service.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including a 40 percent disabling lumbar strain and a noncompensable scar on the lower back, do not render him unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for Paget's disease of the lumbar spine, finding no evidence linking the condition to his active military service.

The Veteran's service connection claims for a low back disability, bilateral hearing loss, and tinnitus were granted based on the evidence showing that his current conditions are related to his military service.

The Board found that the preponderance of the evidence showed a chronic low back disorder was not present during service, arthritis of the spine was not manifest within a year after separation from service, and the Veteran's current low back disability did not develop as a result of any incident during service.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not render him so helpless as to be in need of the regular aid and attendance of another person or substantially confined to his home, thus he is denied special monthly compensation based on the need for regular aid and attendance or housebound status.

The Veteran's service-connected low back disorder and bilateral hearing loss do not warrant increased ratings, and TDIU is not warranted based on the current disability picture.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection and increased ratings, finding that new and material evidence had not been submitted to reopen a claim of entitlement to service connection for a respiratory disorder, and that weight loss, chronic headaches, bilateral hearing loss, PTSD, degenerative disc condition, and tingling of the feet were not related to his military service.

The Board granted service connection for tinnitus, finding it to be related to the Veteran's active military service.