Back / lumbar spine decisions — 2010

The Board has determined that new and material evidence has not been received to reopen the Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral wrist injury, bilateral foot injury, acquired psychiatric disorder (including PTSD, depression, and nervous/anxiety disorder), lumbar spine disorder, and epilepsy, partial complex. The claims were previously denied in December 2004 due to lack of evidence showing a nexus between these conditions and the Veteran's military service.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's thoracolumbar joint and disc disease is of service origin, granting service connection for this condition.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's current lower back disorders, including degenerative disc disease, lumbar spondylosis, stenosis, and sensory radiculopathy, are related to his military service. The appeal is granted.

The Veteran's claims for service connection, increased evaluation, and TDIU are being remanded due to incomplete examination reports. The VA examiner is requested to provide an addendum opinion regarding the presence of a left leg disorder and its relationship to his service-connected lumbosacral strain with sclerosis.

The Board found that the Veteran's currently diagnosed lumbar spine disability is not related to military service and denied her claim.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's osteoarthritis of the lumbar spine and left knee are likely caused by his service-connected right knee disability, warranting service connection for these conditions.

The Board has determined that there is no evidence of current disabilities for the bilateral lower legs or a low back disorder, and thus service connection cannot be established.

The Board has determined that new and material evidence has been received to reopen the claim of service connection for a low back disorder. The Veteran now has a current diagnosis of a low back disorder, which raises a reasonable possibility of substantiating his claim.

The Veteran's left hip and low back disorders are not service-connected. The Board has ordered additional development to determine if these conditions are related to his service-connected left knee disability.

The Board has granted the claim of service connection for tinnitus, finding that it was incurred in or aggravated by active duty service. The low back disability issue is remanded due to insufficient evidence regarding its relationship to service-connected pes planus.

The Board has decided that the Veteran's claims of entitlement to service connection for right knee and back disorders need further examination and evidence review before a final decision can be made.

The Veteran's claims for increased rating and service connection were denied. The Board found that the current rating of 40 percent adequately reflects his disability.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded due to the need for additional VA examinations and retrieval of relevant treatment records.

The Veteran's claims for service connection and increased evaluations were denied. The Board found no evidence linking the current conditions to his military service.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including a supplemental VA examination and review of the claims file to determine whether new and material evidence has been received to reopen the Veteran's claim for service connection for a low back disorder.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for further development, including a VA examination to assess the severity of his service-connected lumbar spine degenerative disc disease/arthritis and associated lower extremity radiculopathy.

The Veteran's claims for an initial evaluation in excess of 20 percent for mechanical low back pain, service connection for numbness and weakness of both arms and hands (with a separate evaluation for right leg neurologic manifestations), and hypertension were all denied. The Veteran was granted service connection for numbness and weakness of both arms and hands with a separate evaluation.

The Board is remanding the Veteran's case for additional development, including obtaining SSA records and a VA psychiatric examination.

The Board found that the Veteran's claimed conditions, including right and left lower extremity radiculopathy and bilateral hip disabilities, are not due to disease or injury incurred in service or secondary to a service-connected disability. The claims were denied.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for increased ratings and service connection, finding that the evidence did not support granting any of the requested benefits.