Back / lumbar spine decisions — 2009

The veteran's claims for service connection for a cervical spine disorder and low back disorder with sciatica were denied as the evidence did not show that these conditions were incurred in or aggravated by active service, nor could they be presumed to have been incurred therein.

The Board denied service connection for a low back disability and bilateral knee disability as there was no evidence that these conditions were incurred in or aggravated by active service.

The Board found that the veteran's lumbar spondylosis, bone spurs, and osteoarthritis of the left hip were not related to his service.

The veteran's claims of service connection for disabilities manifested by left knee and lumbar spine pain, to include as due to an undiagnosed illness, were reopened. Service connection for a tooth disorder was denied.

The veteran's degenerative disc and joint disease of the thoracolumbar spine was not incurred in or aggravated by active military service, and is not proximately due to, or the result of, any service-connected disability.

The evidence does not support an evaluation in excess of 20 percent for the service-connected lumbar strain.

The Board denied service connection for various disorders of the veteran's legs, hips, spine, and knee as there was no evidence to support a link between these conditions and his active military service.

The veteran's service-connected lumbosacral strain is manifested by limited range of motion, decreased endurance during repetitive range of motion, and pain; with no findings of ankylosis, radiculopathy, or neurological symptoms; and, with no evidence of incapacitating episodes having a total duration of at least 6 weeks during the past 12 months.

The appeal is remanded for additional development, including obtaining the veteran's VA treatment records and scheduling him for an additional VA spine examination.

The Board remands the claim for a VA examination to secure an opinion on the nature and likely etiology of the veteran's current low back disability, including whether it is related to injuries sustained during service.

The Board denied service connection for a back disorder and drug and alcohol dependency as there was no evidence of an in-service injury or disease, and the veteran's current conditions were not related to his military service.

The appeal is remanded to the RO for additional development, including scheduling a videoconference hearing.

The veteran's lumbar spondylosis was found to be reasonably related to his active service.

The Board has reopened the claims for service connection for low back and left shoulder disabilities, and granted service connection for lumbosacral degenerative disc disease and degenerative joint disease with right lumbar radiculopathy, as well as degenerative joint disease of the left shoulder.

The veteran's claims for service connection for high blood pressure, pelvic tilt, degenerative joint disease and disc disease of the lumbosacral spine, and a neck condition have been granted.

The veteran's claims for service connection for irritable bowel syndrome and lumbosacral strain are being remanded for further development.

The veteran's service connection for lumbar strain was granted, while the claims for right knee disability and other conditions were denied.

The Board remands the claims for an increased rating in excess of 20 percent for a back disability and in excess of 10 percent for a right knee disability to obtain additional evidence.

The Board denied the appellant's claims for service connection for a thoracic spine disability and a low back disability, finding that new and material evidence had not been submitted to reopen the previously denied claim of entitlement to service connection for scoliosis of the thoracic spine, and that there was no evidence linking either condition to his period of active service.

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