Back / lumbar spine decisions — 2010

The Board has reopened the Veteran's claim for service connection due to new and material evidence. The Board finds that the Veteran's current degenerative disc disease of the lumbar spine is likely related to his inservice back injury.

The Board dismissed the motion due to the death of the veteran, and thus has no jurisdiction to adjudicate the merits.

The Board finds that the evidence is at least in equipoise as to whether the Veteran's left sided numbness and cervical spine degenerative disc disease are related to service, warranting service connection for both conditions.

The Board found no evidence of a current cervical or low back disability that was incurred in service, and thus denied the Veteran's claims for service connection.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for a low back disability, finding that her current condition is not related to her time in active duty.

The Board has determined that there is no evidence of a low back disability related to service, and thus denied the Veteran's claim for service connection.

The Veteran's SLE is rated at 60 percent, and the Board denied an increased rating. The claim for a TDIU was also denied as there were no indications of unemployability due to service-connected disabilities.

The Board found that the appellant's service-connected low back disorder, manifested by chronic low back pain and significant limitation of motion, did not meet the criteria for a rating in excess of 40 percent.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development due to missing examination reports and supplemental statements of the case.

The Veteran's service-connected low back disability has been evaluated as 20 percent disabling since March 27, 2000. The Board finds that the evidence does not support a higher rating.

The Veteran's appeal for an evaluation in excess of 60 percent on and after February 1, 2007, for lumbar spine degenerative disc disease with retrolisthesis and herniated nucleus pulposus has been withdrawn.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's lumbar spine disorder is related to service and grants service connection for this condition.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for a back disorder, bilateral hearing loss, and tinnitus. The Board found that there was no evidence of in-service injury or disease related to these conditions, and thus could not establish direct service connection.

The Veteran's claims for service connection are being remanded due to the need for further development, including examinations and consideration of presumptive service connection for undiagnosed illnesses.

The Veteran's service connection claims were granted for various conditions, including a scar on the left breast, residuals of liposuction surgery, spondylosis of the thoracic spine, right ankle strain, migraine headaches, lumbar sprain, and major depressive disorder. The effective dates are not specified.

The Board has determined that a remand is necessary to obtain additional medical evidence and to schedule the Veteran for an appropriate VA examination. The appeal will be returned to the Appeals Management Center (AMC) for further action.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining VA examinations and private medical records.

The Board has determined that new and material evidence was received to reopen the claims of service connection for a low back disability and residuals of a concussion with headaches and eye problems. However, the newly submitted evidence does not relate to an unestablished fact necessary to substantiate these claims.

The Board has granted service connection for lumbar spine degenerative disc disease, finding that the Veteran's current condition is likely due to an injury sustained during his period of active service. Service connection was denied for lipomas.

The Veteran's right knee and low back disabilities are being remanded for further examination to determine if they are proximately due or aggravated by his service-connected left knee disability.