Back / lumbar spine decisions — 2010

The Board has determined that additional development is necessary prior to the adjudication of these claims, including obtaining VA examinations for the Veteran's claimed stomach muscle disability, neck and back disabilities, and right leg disability. The Veteran's service connection claims have been denied.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for his left and right knee disabilities, service connection for bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, low back disability, neck disability, and residuals of concussion were denied. The Board found that the evidence did not support a higher rating for either knee disability.

The Board denied service connection for a sleep disorder and degenerative disc disease of the thoracolumbar spine, finding no evidence to support these claims.

The Board has reopened the Veteran's claim for service connection for lumbosacral strain with degenerative changes and granted it, finding that there is a continuity of symptomatology since service.

The Veteran's appeal has been withdrawn due to the appellant's request for withdrawal prior to a decision being made.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for a chronic lower back disability, claimed as lumbago, due to lack of evidence showing a current disability related to his military service.

The Veteran's claim for payment or reimbursement of unauthorized medical expenses incurred at a private hospital is denied as the services were not rendered in an emergency situation and no VA facility was feasibly unavailable.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's low back disability, diagnosed as spondylolisthesis of L5-S1 and degenerative disc disease, is aggravated by his service-connected bilateral pes planus. Therefore, service connection for this condition is granted.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's low back disorder is etiologically related to his active service, and thus service connection for this condition is granted.

The Board has ordered a remand to obtain additional service treatment records, particularly from the Vietnam era. The Veteran's claim for service connection for a back disorder will be reconsidered based on this new evidence.

The Board found that the Veteran's current low back disorder is not related to his service and denied his claim for service connection.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's low back disorder is related to his military service and grants service connection for this condition.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's claims for service connection for various conditions, including arthritis of the hands, feet, and knees, back disorder, eye disorder, diabetes mellitus, and hemolytic anemia are not supported by the evidence. The RO previously denied these claims multiple times without reopening them due to lack of new and material evidence.

The Board has granted service connection for the Veteran's low back disability, finding that it is related to his active military service. The claim of entitlement to a compensable evaluation for right ear hearing loss was denied.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for a back disorder is being remanded due to the need for further development, including obtaining Social Security Administration records and scheduling a VA examination if necessary.

The Board found no evidence of a nexus between the Veteran's current low back disability and his service, including an injury in service. The claim for service connection is denied.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for his service-connected lumbar strain with severe arthritis and residuals of a right arm injury with a muscle tear were denied as the evidence did not meet the criteria for higher evaluations under the applicable rating schedule.

The Board has determined that new and material evidence has not been received to reopen the claims for service connection for lumbosacral strain with arthritic changes of the lumbar spine and residuals of back injury, as well as for residuals of a head and jaw injury. As such, these claims remain denied.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's degenerative disc disease of the lumbar spine is related to his active service, and he is granted service connection for this condition. The Veteran also receives a compensable evaluation for residuals of shrapnel wounds over the left eye and an initial 20 percent rating for residuals of shrapnel wounds to the left thigh.

The Board denied reopening the claims for service connection for a back disorder, right hip disorder, and psychiatric disorder due to lack of new and material evidence. The Veteran's statements regarding his symptoms were considered redundant.