Back / lumbar spine decisions — 2010

The Veteran's right lower extremity sciatica is service connected, but his cervical spine degenerative disc disease does not warrant a higher initial evaluation.

The Veteran's claims for increased evaluations for degenerative disc disease of the lumbar spine and arthritis of both hips are being remanded due to incomplete medical records, including a lack of recent VA treatment records. The RO/AMC must obtain all relevant medical records and provide the Veteran with appropriate examinations to determine the current severity of his service-connected disabilities.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's current low back disability is attributable to an in-service injury, and therefore grants service connection for a lumbosacral spine disability.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's current back disorders, including spondylosis, degenerative disc disease, and osteoarthritis, are attributable to service. The evidence supports a finding of service connection for these conditions.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for a chronic back disorder, finding that his current condition was not incurred in or aggravated by active service and is not proximately due to or the result of a service-connected left ankle disability.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for a back disorder, including disc disease and osteoarthritis, is being remanded due to the need for an examination and additional development of records.

The Board has decided to remand the case for further development, including obtaining private treatment records from Drs. R. Cook and P. Jensen.

The Board found that the Veteran's claimed knee, leg, cervical spine, lumbar spine, and carpal tunnel disabilities were not incurred or aggravated by active military service.

The Board found no evidence of a link between the Veteran's in-service injury and his current low back disorder, resulting in denial of service connection.

The Board found that the Veteran's low back disorder is attributable to a known clinical diagnosis and not due to an undiagnosed illness, thus denying service connection.

The Board finds that the Veteran does not have a currently diagnosed back or bilateral knee disorder related to his military service. The claim for service connection is denied.

The VA has granted service connection for degenerative arthritis of the lumbar spine and assigned an initial disability rating of 10 percent.

The Board found that the Veteran's currently demonstrated sleep apnea was not present in service and is not shown to be causally or etiologically related to his service-connected chronic lumbosacral strain. Therefore, service connection for sleep apnea was denied.

The Veteran's lumbar spine disability was evaluated at 20% effective January 11, 2008. The RO denied increased evaluations for the period prior to January 11, 2008 and from April 18, 2005.

The Board found no evidence to support the Veteran's claims of service connection for a back disability and vertigo, finding that there is no competent medical evidence linking these conditions to his military service.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded to obtain updated findings related to his degenerative arthritis of the lumbar spine and bilateral lower extremity neuropathy, including VA treatment records and a contemporaneous VA examination. The RO must consider whether separate compensable ratings are warranted under Diagnostic Codes 5242 (for back disability) and 8520 (for right and left-sided radiculopathy or neuropathy).

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including obtaining service records from 1973 to 1974 and VA treatment records. The Veteran's claims for acquired psychiatric disability, low back disorder, bilateral hearing loss, and tinnitus are being reviewed.

The Veteran's degenerative disc disease of the lumbosacral spine, status post laminectomy, was not incurred in or aggravated by service. The Board found no evidence linking his current back condition to his military service.

The Board has determined that new and material evidence has not been submitted to reopen the claims for service connection for neck and low back disabilities. The Veteran's current neck and low back pain is not related to his in-service motor vehicle accident, as there is no competent medical evidence linking these conditions to his active duty.

The Board has remanded the case for further development due to insufficient reasons and bases in its previous decisions regarding service connection, evaluation of right ankle disability, and hypertension.