Back / lumbar spine decisions — 2010

The Veteran's claims for service connection have been denied. The Board found that the evidence received since the June 2001 rating decision does not relate to an unestablished fact necessary to substantiate any of the claims and does not raise a reasonable possibility of substantiating any of the claims.

The Veteran's claim for TDIU is being remanded due to the need for additional development, including a VA examination to assess her ability to secure and follow substantially gainful employment given her service-connected disabilities.

The Board has determined that there is no evidence of a current disability related to active military service for any of the claimed conditions. Service connection was denied for lumbar spine disorder, bilateral knee disorder, hypertension, sinusitis, and laryngitis.

The Board has determined that additional development is needed to address the Veteran's claim for service connection for a low back disorder, including intervertebral disc syndrome. This includes providing proper VCAA notice and obtaining relevant National Guard service records.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded due to the need for a more current VA examination and consideration of any associated neurologic impairment.

The Board found that the Veteran's current degenerative disc disease, status-post L4 to L5 laminectomy, is not related to service and denied his claim. The Board also found no evidence linking sleep apnea to service.

The Veteran's service-connected DDD of the lumbar spine is currently rated at 10 percent, effective December 1, 2006. The disability picture more nearly approximates that of muscle spasm or guarding severe enough to result in abnormal gait or spinal contour such as scoliosis, reversed lordosis, or kyphosis.

The Board has determined that the appellant's lumbar spine and right ankle disabilities do not warrant increased evaluations as they have not been manifested by ankylosis, incapacitating episodes, or marked limitation of motion.

The Veteran's low back disability has been manifested by complaints of pain and functional impairment, with no incapacitating episodes. The VA rating board found that the evidence did not meet the criteria for a higher rating under any applicable diagnostic code.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim of service connection for a low back disorder, finding no evidence of a current disability related to his period of service.

The Board has reopened the claims for service connection for hypertension, bursitis of the right shoulder, residuals of a low back injury, and residuals of a neck injury. The case is remanded to further develop these claims on the merits.

The Board has remanded the claim for further development and consideration, including a VA examination to determine the presence or absence of lumbar radiculopathy.

The Board found that the Veteran's low back disorder did not originate in service and is not related to his service-connected plantar warts. The VA examiner concluded that the current low back condition was not caused by or aggravated by the service-connected plantar warts.

The Board found no relationship between the Veteran's degenerative joint disease of the lumbar spine and her service-connected muscle strain, concluding that there is no evidence to support a secondary service connection.

The Veteran's low back strain was rated at 20% prior to July 6, 2009. As of July 6, 2009, the rating for his condition has been increased to 40%. The current evaluation is based on severe limitation of motion.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's degenerative disc and joint disease of the cervical spine without evidence of radiculopathy is related to his active military service, granting service connection for this condition.

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

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded due to his request for a hearing before the Board of Veterans' Appeals.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for a back disorder was denied as there is no current diagnosis of such a condition.

The Veteran's claims for service connection and initial ratings for bilateral hip disorder, major depression, and low back disorder have been denied. The Board found that the evidence did not support a finding of in-service injury or disease resulting in these conditions.