Back / lumbar spine decisions — 2010

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for her claimed low back disorder, left knee disorder, acquired psychiatric disorder (depression and PTSD), stomach disorder, and respiratory disorder. The evidence did not establish a current disability or link to service.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's claimed conditions are not related to his active military service and have denied all of his claims.

The Veteran's appeal has been dismissed as he withdrew his appeals for increased evaluations of asthmatic bronchitis and tinnitus.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's current lumbar strain is related to his in-service injury, and service connection for this condition is granted.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for low back pain and degenerative joint disease of the left knee, as well as his claim for an acquired psychiatric disorder. The evidence did not establish new and material evidence to reopen any of these claims.

The Veteran's appeal was denied as his service-connected degenerative disc and joint disease of the cervical spine did not warrant a rating in excess of 10 percent.

The Board has granted service connection for traumatic spondylosis of the lumbar spine and dismissed the appeal regarding right knee chondromalacia and left ankle disability due to lack of specific error or law in the determination.

The Veteran's claims for service connection are being remanded due to the need for additional development, including obtaining medical records and scheduling VA examinations.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development of his claims, including obtaining VA treatment records and providing an addendum to the VA examination report regarding his adjustment disorder with mixed features.

The Veteran's cervical spine disability, including degenerative joint disease and degenerative disc disease of the thoracic spine, was found to be related to service. The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for his thoracic spine and knee disabilities were granted with a rating of 10 percent.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including obtaining medical opinions regarding the etiology of the Veteran's claimed conditions and their relationship to service.

The Board has dismissed the appeal of the issue regarding service connection for depression, secondary to service-connected residuals of lumbosacral strain as there is no disputed question of law or fact. The RO's May 2010 rating decision granted service connection at a 30 percent initial evaluation for depression, secondary to service-connected residuals of lumbosacral strain.

The Board found that there is no evidence linking the current low back disorder to service, and denied the Veteran's claim of service connection for a low back disorder as secondary to his left knee disability.

The Veteran's PTSD and back disorder are both found to be related to his active service, with the Board granting service connection for these conditions.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for a bilateral foot disorder (flat feet) and a lower back disorder, finding that there was no clear and unmistakable evidence of pre-existing flat feet aggravated by service. The lower back disorder was not shown to be related to service.

The Veteran's claims for service connection were denied as there was no competent medical evidence showing that any of the claimed conditions had their onset in service or within one year after discharge.

The Board denied service connection for the Veteran's claimed back disability, COPD, sinusitis/allergic rhinitis, and gastric ulcer due to lack of evidence showing a link between these conditions and active service.

The Veteran's right knee disability is found to be causally related to his military service, and he is granted service connection for this condition.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for nephrolithiasis and an initial evaluation greater than 10 percent for thoracolumbar spine degenerative disc disease. The evidence did not support a current diagnosis of nephrolithiasis, nor was there any evidence of continuity of symptomatology from service to present. For the thoracolumbar spine condition, the Board found that while forward flexion was limited to 70 degrees at one examination and 80 degrees at another, this did not meet the criteria for a higher initial evaluation under the General Rating Formula.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development due to new evidence and a need for updated examinations.