Back / lumbar spine decisions — 2010

The Board granted service connection for a back disability, right knee disability, and headaches. Service connection for hypertension was not established as secondary to PTSD.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss and lumbar spine disorder were not found to be related to his service, including exposure to noise or injury. The claims for these conditions are therefore denied.

The Veteran's claims for increased evaluations of lumbar strain, sacroiliac syndrome of the right hip, and sacroiliac syndrome of the left hip were denied. The RO found that the Veteran did not meet the criteria for a higher evaluation under the applicable rating schedule.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's low back disability, ischemic heart disease, and hypertension were not incurred in or aggravated by service. The evidence does not support a finding of service connection for these conditions.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's low back disorder, including degenerative disc disease and spinal stenosis, is at least as likely as not aggravated by his service-connected bilateral pes planus. As a result, the claim for service connection for this condition is granted.

The Veteran's lumbosacral strain has been manifested by pain and some painful limitation of motion. The VA determined that the disability does not meet the criteria for a higher rating.

The Board dismissed the appeal due to the death of the appellant, and no jurisdiction remains for adjudicating the merits of this claim.

The Board has granted an effective date of September 13, 1985 for service connection of lumbar spine and cervical spine disabilities. The Veteran's claim was pending since at least September 1984 when he submitted a petition to reopen his previously denied claims.

The Board has remanded the case for further development due to inadequate VA examination and incomplete medical opinions.

The Veteran's lumbar strain with intermittent radiculopathy of the left lower extremity is rated at 20 percent effective September 19, 2007. The Veteran also has a separate rating for lumbar spine radiculopathy on the left. Glaucoma remains in appellate status.

The Board found that the Veteran's psychiatric disorder is not related to his active military service and denied his claim for service connection.

The Veteran's low back disability is not productive of any incapacitating episodes and is productive of no more than moderate impairment. The residuals of a fractured right second metacarpal are manifested by subjective complaints with evidence that the Veteran is able to make a full fist without any gap between the fingertips and the proximal palmar transverse crease.

The Veteran's low back disorder was granted an initial rating of 40 percent effective February 2, 2010. The claim for higher ratings for his right and left knee disorders remains pending.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including a VA examination and consideration of the new evidence received since the last RO review.

The Board found that the Veteran's lumbar disc disease was not incurred or aggravated during service and denied his claim for service connection.

The Board has remanded the case for further development, including scheduling VA examinations and providing additional notice to the Veteran regarding his claims.

The Board found that the Veteran's cervical spine disability and right hip disability were not incurred in or aggravated by service, and may not be presumed to have been so incurred or aggravated. The low back disability was denied as well.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim of entitlement to service connection for lumbar strain, finding that his current low back condition was not incurred in or related to his active duty military service.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's degenerative joint disease of the lumbar spine, claimed as lumbosacral strain, and his degenerative arthritis of the thoracic spine are at least as likely as not attributable to his military service.