Back / lumbar spine decisions — 2009

The Board denied the veteran's claim for service connection for a lumbar spine disability as there was no medical evidence linking the current condition to his military service.

The veteran's lumbosacral strain does not meet the criteria for a disability rating higher than 20 percent.

The Board denied the veteran's claim for service connection for a low back disorder due to lack of evidence showing chronic pathology or disability during or after service.

The Board granted a 40 percent rating for status post lumbar fusion, L4-L5, with Tarlov cysts and denied a compensable evaluation for scar, status post left inguinal hernia repair.

The Board found that the veteran's lumbar spine disorder, specifically spondylolysis, is a developmental defect not subject to service connection.

The Board denied the veteran's claim for service connection for a lumbar spine disorder, finding no evidence that it was related to his active service or his service-connected left knee disability.

The case must be remanded to obtain additional medical records from a private physician and address the timeliness of an appeal for compensation under 38 U.S.C.A. § 1151.

The veteran's claim for service connection for lumbar disc disease and an evaluation in excess of 40 percent for chronic recurrent low back strain was remanded for a VA examination by a panel of medical specialists to determine the etiology of any lumbar disc disease found.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for increased ratings for degenerative arthritis of the lumbar spine and right elbow, as the evidence did not support a higher rating based on the current severity of his conditions.

The veteran's hypertension does not meet the criteria for a compensable evaluation, and he is capable of engaging in substantially gainful employment.

The Board denied service connection for a right eye disorder, back disability, heart disorder, right knee disability, and psychiatric disorder as these conditions were not caused or aggravated by the veteran's active military service.

The veteran's lumbar spine disability, to include degenerative changes, is not due to disease or injury that was incurred in or aggravated by military service.

The appeal is remanded for additional development, including an examination and opinion from a physician regarding the etiology of any mid-upper low back pathology.

The Board granted service connection for chondromalacia of the left knee, reopened the claim of service connection for a low back disability, and remanded the claims for arthritis of the hips and secondary low back disability for further development.

The Board remanded the case for further development, as a VA examination and opinion regarding the nature and etiology of the veteran's claimed back disability were needed.

The Board found that the preponderance of the evidence is against the grant of service connection for degenerative joint disease of the lumbar spine.

The veteran's lumbosacral strain and tinea versicolor do not meet the criteria for higher ratings at any time since August 7, 2003.

The appeal is remanded for additional VA examinations to assess the impact of the veteran's service-connected spinal and left knee disabilities on his ability to obtain and maintain gainful employment.

The Board denied a rating in excess of 40 percent for lumbosacral strain with herniated nucleus pulposus status post laminectomy and granted the veteran's withdrawal of his appeal regarding Bell's Palsy.

The appeal is remanded to the RO for further development and a determination on whether a timely substantive appeal has been filed.