Back / lumbar spine decisions — 2009

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for a psychiatric disorder, low back disorder, bilateral hip disorder, and residuals of injury to the fifth toe of the right foot.

The veteran's claim for service connection for a back condition was remanded to obtain additional evidence and schedule the veteran for a VA examination.

The veteran was granted service connection for mild spondylotic changes at the L5-S1 level, general myalgia and arthralgia, mood swings, short term memory loss, and nervousness as qualifying chronic disabilities under 38 C.F.R. § 3.317.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for a right ankle, back and hip disability as there was no evidence of current disabilities or a relationship to his military service.

The Board has determined that new and material evidence has been submitted to reopen the claim for service connection for bilateral flat feet, but not for a low back disorder. The veteran's myofascial pain syndrome is related to his active duty service, while sleep apnea, GERD, and memory loss are not.

The Board denied service connection for all conditions except an initial rating of 20 percent for arthritis of the left ankle.

The veteran's claims for increased ratings for his orthopedic and neurologic manifestations of a low back disability are being remanded for additional development, including providing the veteran with proper notice, obtaining outstanding VA treatment records, scheduling him for an examination to determine the current severity of his disabilities, and readjudicating the claim.

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

The veteran's claim for a schedular rating higher than 40 percent for his low back disability was denied.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for a low back disorder and a right hand disorder, finding no evidence of a current disability or a link to active duty.

The veteran's claims for increased ratings for degenerative disc disease with L4 radiculopathy and impaired sensation, left lower extremity are being remanded for a travel Board hearing.

The Board denied service connection for residuals of a left leg injury, a low back disability, blackouts, a psychiatric disorder (anxiety neurosis and depression), and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) as new and material evidence was not received to reopen the claims, and no evidence showed that any current disabilities were incurred in or caused by active service.

The veteran's appeal for an increased rating for major depressive disorder was withdrawn.

The Board denied service connection for a lumbosacral spine disorder and PTSD, as there was no credible evidence of an in-service injury or verified stressor event.

The veteran's claims for increased ratings for tinnitus and bilateral tinea pedis were denied as the evidence did not support a higher rating under applicable criteria. The claim for lumbar strain was remanded.

The Board denied service connection for a low back condition as there was no evidence of a current disability.

The veteran's low back disability, status post back injury with traumatic arthritis of L4 - L5, was denied a rating in excess of 20 percent.

The veteran's claim for service connection for a lower back condition was reopened based on new and material evidence, but ultimately denied as the evidence did not show that his current lower back disorder is related to military service or a service-connected disability.

The veteran's low back disability was related to his military service, and service connection is granted.

The veteran's degenerative disc disease and associated radiculopathy were rated appropriately, but service connection for sensory peripheral neuropathy of both lower extremities was denied.