Back / lumbar spine decisions — 2009

The veteran's lumbar strain was not found to warrant an initial evaluation in excess of 20 percent.

The Board remands the claims for a lumbar and cervical spine disorder to schedule the Veteran for a VA examination to determine their etiology.

The June 2007 Board decision that denied entitlement to service connection for a low back disability was adequately supported by the evidence then of record and was not undebatably erroneous.

The Board denied service connection for a back disorder, quadriparesis, residuals of facial fractures, multiple sclerosis, and anemia. The initial rating for bilateral hearing loss was also denied.

The Board remands the case for additional development to comply with the instructions of a joint motion from the Court.

The veteran's lumbar strain with degenerative disc disease was granted a rating of 40 percent effective July 27, 2006.

The Board found that the Veteran's lumbar spine disability warranted a 40% rating, effective from October 27, 2006. The other claims were denied.

The veteran does not have any current disabilities involving his low back, neck, right knee, or ankles.

The veteran's low back disorder is causally related to his service-connected left knee disability.

The veteran's claims for increased ratings for lumbar spondylosis, right knee conditions, and left knee degenerative changes were denied as the evidence did not support higher evaluations.

The Board denied service connection for a low back disability as there was no evidence of the condition in service, and no competent evidence linking it to service.

The Board remanded the case for an addendum opinion to clarify whether any neurological manifestations in either lower extremity, including radiculopathy and a right foot drop, are due to service-connected degenerative disc disease.

The Board denied service connection for a low back disorder as there was no evidence that the Veteran's current condition was related to an in-service injury.

The Veteran was granted service connection for left knee arthritis and assigned a 40 percent rating for radiculitis of the lower left extremity. However, initial ratings in excess of 40 percent for idiopathic scoliosis of the lumbar spine with degenerative disc disease were denied.

The claim for service connection for a low back disability is being remanded for additional development and readjudication.

The Board found that new and material evidence had been received to reopen the claims for service connection for bilateral wrist injuries and a bilateral shoulder disability, but did not address the merits of these claims. The appeal was remanded for further development.

The appeal is remanded to the Board of Veterans' Appeals for further development and consideration.

The Board denied service connection for heart disease, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, and arthritis of the thoracolumbar spine. However, it granted service connection for post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) based on new and material evidence.

The veteran's claims for increased ratings for major depressive disorder, degenerative joint disease of the left shoulder, limitation of motion of the lumbar spine with pain, hemorrhoids, and hypertension were denied as the evidence did not support a higher rating.

The veteran's service-connected disabilities, while severe, do not render him unemployable. The Board finds that the evidence does not support a finding of TDIU.