Back / lumbar spine decisions — 2010

The Veteran's claims for service connection and increased rating are being remanded due to the need for additional evidence and examination.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's headaches, low back disorder, and left ankle sprain are all related to his active duty service.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for various conditions, including a lumbar spine disability and left carpal tunnel syndrome. The evidence does not support a finding that these conditions are related to service.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's hiatal hernia, gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD), bilateral plantar fasciitis, and degenerative joint disease and dextroscoliosis of the lumbosacral spine are not service-connected.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims of service connection for an upper back disorder and a bilateral foot disorder due to lack of examination. The Veteran must be scheduled for VA examinations to determine if he currently has these conditions and whether they are related to his active duty service.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's current back condition is not related to his military service and therefore denied his claim for service connection.

The Board found that the Veteran's low back disorder did not develop in service or is otherwise causally related to service, and thus denied his claim for service connection.

The Veteran's claim for an increased evaluation of his lumbar spine disability was denied, but the Board found that additional evidence warranted a remand to consider the claims de novo. The initial evaluations were granted and assigned.

The Veteran's claim for compensation benefits under section 1151 was denied. The claims for service connection were also denied, with the exception of major depression which was granted. Higher ratings for bilateral hearing loss were not awarded.

The Veteran's claim for increased disability evaluations for his low back disability is being remanded due to the need for a new VA spine examination.

The Veteran's service-connected back disability has been rated at 40 percent since November 3, 2008. The Board granted a higher initial rating of 60 percent effective from October 29, 2001.

The Board has dismissed the appeals of the issues concerning asthma, depression, and stress. The claims for service connection for left ear hearing loss and low back disability are denied.

The Board found that the Veteran's current degenerative disc disease of the lumbar spine is not related to his active military service and denied his claim for service connection.

The Veteran's claim for service connection and non-service connected pension benefits were denied due to the lack of a period of war service. The issue of service connection was remanded.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's arthritis of the left ankle and spinal stenosis of the lumbar spine are not related to his active service.

The Board has denied the appellant's claims for service connection for a back disorder, neck disorder, left arm injury, right arm injury, and depression as there is no competent or credible evidence linking these conditions to his military service.

The Board has determined that new and material evidence has been submitted to reopen the claim of entitlement to service connection for a right knee disorder. However, the Veteran's claims for left knee and low back disorders due to the right knee disorder were denied as there is no evidence showing these conditions are related to military service.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for various disabilities, including left leg cellulitis, disability of the feet, left knee disability, lumbar spine disability, and cervical spine disability, were denied as there is no evidence linking these conditions to his active military service.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection and an increased rating for his cervical spine disability, finding that new evidence did not establish a current disability or link it to service.

The Board has determined that service connection for degenerative disc disease of the cervical spine and right elbow and forearm tendonitis is not warranted, but has granted restoration of a 50 percent disability rating for service-connected rotator cuff syndrome of the right shoulder.