Back / lumbar spine decisions — 2010

The Board has granted service connection for fibromyalgia as secondary to the Veteran's service-connected lumbosacral strain with DDD, and increased his rating for lumbosacral strain with DDD from noncompensable to 20 percent.

The Board has granted service connection for a low back disorder, finding that the Veteran's lumbar strain and lumbar disc disease with herniation at L4-L5 had its onset in service. Service connection was denied for bilateral carpal tunnel syndrome.

The Veteran's low back disability is rated at a combined 30 percent, with a separate 10 percent rating for associated radiculopathy of the right lower extremity. The initial higher rating for the low back disability has been granted.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's degenerative disc disease of the lumbosacral spine is related to an injury incurred during active duty service and grants service connection for this condition.

The Veteran's service-connected right third finger disability is rated at 10 percent, effective February 13, 2004. The Board found that the Veteran's current right third finger disability does not warrant a higher rating.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development of the record, including obtaining medical records and conducting a VA examination to determine if the Veteran's current conditions are related to his military service.

The Board found that the Veteran's upper back disability and arthritis of the cervical spine are not related to military service, and denied both claims.

The Board denied service connection for a back disorder and secondary service connection for a back disorder due to the left knee disability. However, it granted service connection for diabetes mellitus and secondary service connection for diabetes mellitus due to the left knee disability.

The Board found that the Veteran's low back and peptic ulcer diseases are not related to service, but granted service connection for his right knee disability.

The Board has granted service connection for the Veteran's degenerative arthritis of the lumbar spine, finding that it is likely due to injuries sustained during active duty.

The Veteran's claims to reopen service connection for shoulder, headache, hip, and leg disabilities are granted. The underlying claims of entitlement to increased ratings for service-connected residuals of a compression fracture, C-6 with degenerative disc disease and sinusitis are deferred pending completion of the development sought in the remand that follows.

The Board denied service connection for a back disorder and left knee arthritis, finding no credible evidence linking these conditions to service.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss is granted service connection based on in-service noise exposure. The claims for PTSD, left leg disability, low back disability, and bilateral hip disability are denied as there is no evidence of current diagnoses or a link to service.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's claimed right shoulder, right knee, and back disabilities are not related to service. The evidence does not support a finding of in-service injury or disease for any of these conditions.

The Veteran's appeal has been withdrawn by the appellant, resulting in dismissal of the case.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for various disabilities, including right and left elbow disabilities, a rash on the chest, recurrent pharyngitis, gynecomastia, Graves disease, and a back disability, all of which are not presumed to be due to exposure to herbicides. The evidence does not support a finding that any of these conditions were incurred in service.

The Veteran's claim for an increased evaluation of his cervical spine disability was denied. His right shoulder arthralgia was not service-connected.

The Veteran's claims for service connection are being remanded due to the need to secure SSA records and provide proper VCAA notice.

The Board found no evidence linking the Veteran's current bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, and degenerative bone and disc disease of the lumbar spine to his active service. The appeal was denied.

The Board has decided to remand the case for additional development, including searching for missing service treatment records and scheduling a VA examination.