Back / lumbar spine decisions — 2009

The Board has remanded the case for a Travel Board hearing to be scheduled at the RO.

The Board has granted service connection for degenerative disc disease of the lumbar spine, finding that it is aggravated by service-connected residuals of shell fragment wounds. The issue of a bilateral foot disorder remains pending.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not meet the criteria for SMC based on a need for regular aid and attendance of another person or on account of being housebound.

The Board has granted service connection for a right knee disorder, but denied the remaining issues of entitlement to service connection for left knee, left shoulder, back, and hand disorders.

The VA determined that the appellant's low back disorder is not related to his military service.

The Board found that the Veteran's low back disability is not etiologically related to an in-service disease or injury and denied his claim for service connection.

The Board found that there is no competent medical evidence linking the Veteran's gynecological, cervical spine, or thoracolumbar spine disabilities to her service. Therefore, the claims for these conditions were denied.

The Board found no evidence of a chronic back disorder in service and denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for multilevel degenerative disc disease.

The Board has granted service connection for sinusitis and low back disorders, finding that the Veteran's conditions are related to his military service. Service connection for systemic lupus erythematous (SLE) and renal failure is denied due to lack of evidence linking these conditions to service or herbicide exposure.

The Board denied reopening of the claim for direct service connection and secondary service connection for a lumbar spine disability due to lack of new and material evidence, and because there is no medical evidence supporting the Veteran's claims.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for various conditions, including PTSD, bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, low back disorder, heart disease, sleep disorder, and neuropathy of the hands were denied. The Board found that new evidence did not raise a reasonable possibility of substantiating the claim of service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder (claimed as PTSD).

The Board has determined that the Veteran's low back and cervical spine disabilities are service-connected due to in-service injuries sustained during active duty.

The Board has granted service connection for degenerative joint disease of the cervical spine and disc herniation of the lumbar spine (L4-5) with radiating pain to the lower extremities, both found to be related to a period of active duty for training in May 1989. Service connection was denied for degenerative joint disease of bilateral shoulders.

The Board found that the Veteran's thoracolumbar degenerative disc disease did not meet the criteria for a rating in excess of 40 percent, and his hypothyroidism did not meet the criteria for a rating in excess of 60 percent. The appeals were therefore denied.

The Board has reopened the claims for service connection for asthma and a low back disability due to new evidence received since the last final denial. The Veteran's asthma is found to be related to his active service, while his low back disability is not considered to have had onset during service.

The Veteran's claim for service connection is being remanded due to incomplete information and the need for additional medical examination.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development of his claims, including obtaining service treatment records and SSA disability benefits records.

The Board has remanded the case due to incomplete records and the need for VCAA notice regarding applicable diagnostic criteria.

The Board has remanded the case due to incomplete records and the need for a VA examination to determine the etiology of any current low back disorders.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not meet the schedular criteria for a TDIU, and there is no evidence of exceptional or unusual circumstances that would render him unemployable.