Back / lumbar spine decisions — 2010

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for right shoulder, left shoulder, and middle back disabilities. The claim of reopening a previously denied neck disability was also denied.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for a lung disorder, chronic low back disorder, and PTSD were all denied. The Board found no current evidence of a chronic lung disability or a chronic low back disorder. Regarding PTSD, the claim was reopened but not granted as there is insufficient evidence to establish that the claimed stressor occurred during service.

The Veteran's appeal was dismissed due to his death.

The Board has remanded the claims due to insufficient evidence and further development is needed.

The Board is remanding the case for clarification of medical evidence and a VA examination to determine the diagnoses and etiologies of the appellant's bilateral knees, low back, and whether any are related to service or service-connected disabilities.

The Board has denied the reopening of a previously denied claim for service connection due to lack of new and material evidence.

The Veteran's appeal involves claims for service connection for various foot, ankle, knee, hip, and low back disabilities. The Board has determined that additional development is needed to address these issues.

The Veteran's service connection claims for bilateral hand disability, bilateral hearing loss, bilateral knee disability, back disability, neck disability, and residuals of right ankle sprain have been denied as there is no evidence of a current disability or a link to service.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims of reopening service connection for a back disorder and generalized arthritis due to lack of new and material evidence.

The Veteran's low back disability is found to be related to his active duty service, and he is granted service connection for degenerative disc disease and wedge compression deformity of the lumbar spine.

The Board has remanded the case due to incomplete service treatment records and a need for a VA examination to determine if the Veteran's current lumbar spine disability is related to his active service.

The Veteran's claim for an increased evaluation of his service-connected lumbosacral strain was denied. The Board found that the evidence did not show a level of disability supporting a higher rating than 10 percent, and no earlier effective date is assignable due to lack of factual basis.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development of his claims, including obtaining medical records and scheduling VA examinations.

The Veteran's service-connected lumbar spondylosis with strain was increased to a 40 percent rating effective November 22, 2008. The right knee strain remains at a 10 percent rating.

The Board has granted the Veteran's claim of entitlement to service connection for arthritis of the lumbar spine as secondary to his service-connected bilateral flat feet.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, to include PTSD; a back disorder; and a left hip disorder. The preponderance of evidence is against these claims.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded due to the submission of a notice of disagreement regarding service connection for a back condition. The case is also inextricably intertwined with the secondary claim based on a back condition.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's low back and right knee disabilities are not related to his military service, leading to a denial of these claims.

The Board has ordered a remand due to conflicting medical opinions and the need for additional evidence, including VA and private treatment records.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's low back and left side pain did not have its onset during active service or is otherwise related to his military service. The claim for bilateral hearing loss was also denied as there is no evidence of a current disability, and the preponderance of the evidence does not support a relationship between the current condition and service.