Back / lumbar spine decisions — 2010

The Board denied service connection for a left ankle condition and a low back condition, as well as the increased rating and separate disability ratings for the Veteran's service-connected knee disability.

The Veteran's service-connected low back disability is now rated at 10 percent effective January 2, 2008.

The Board found that the Veteran's back disability was not incurred in or aggravated by service and arthritis may not be presumed to have been incurred therein.

The Board found that there is no evidence of a low back disability during service or for many years thereafter, and the Veteran's current condition cannot be linked to his active duty. The claim for service connection was denied.

The Board has granted service connection for lumbar spine disc disease, spondylosis, and spondylolisthesis. The issue of service connection for diabetes mellitus with polyneuropathy is remanded.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for a back condition and TDIU due to lack of evidence linking his current disability to service. The Veteran was granted a higher rating for PTSD.

The Board finds that the evidence is at least in relative equipoise regarding whether the Veteran's low back disability was incurred during his active duty. The claim for service connection is granted.

The Veteran does not have a diagnosed left hip, low back, right knee, or left knee disability that was incurred in or aggravated by active duty service.

The Board has granted the Veteran's claim of entitlement to service connection for a back disorder, as secondary to his service-connected right ankle disability.

The Veteran's service-connected degenerative joint and disc disease of the lumbar spine is manifested by incapacitating episodes having a total duration of approximately 6 weeks during a 12 month period, which meets the criteria for a 60 percent rating.

The Board has remanded the case due to incomplete development of service records and a need for further medical examination.

The Veteran's service-connected cervical spine disability is currently evaluated at 20 percent, and the Board has determined that a higher rating is not warranted.

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

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection due to additional development being required.

The Veteran withdrew his appeal for all issues on April 27, 2010.

The Board has determined that the Veteran does not have a chronic disability of the left shoulder or low back, and thus service connection for these conditions is denied.

The Board has granted service connection for tinnitus and denied service connection for hearing loss in the right ear and a low back disorder. The Veteran's tinnitus is found to be related to his military service, while his hearing loss and low back disorder are not.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for increased ratings for asthma, degenerative joint disease at L5-S1 (low back disability), and gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD).

The Board found that the preponderance of evidence does not support service connection for a cervical disorder, and denied all issues related to lumbar degenerative disc disease.

The Veteran's initial claim for a higher rating for his low back disability was denied. The RO granted service connection and assigned a 10 percent evaluation effective January 6, 2000, and a 40 percent evaluation effective June 25, 2004.