Back / lumbar spine decisions — 2010

The Board has determined that the Veteran's cervical and low back disabilities are not related to service, as there is no evidence of a nexus between his current conditions and any in-service injury or disease. The Veteran's disabilities have been attributed to post-service work-related injuries.

The Board has ordered a remand to attempt to verify the Veteran's current address and schedule him for VA examinations to determine the nature and etiology of his claimed right knee, back, and neck disorders.

The Board denied service connection for chronic low back disability, finding no evidence of a chronic condition during or within one year after service. The Veteran's current low back disability was not linked to his military service.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for additional development due to inadequate examination and new evidence submitted by the Veteran.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings and service connection were denied. The Board found that the Veteran did not meet the criteria for a compensable evaluation for his bilateral hearing loss or residuals of a right hand injury, to include arthritis of the right thumb and fingers. Service connection was also denied for cervical arthralgia and a back disorder.

The Veteran's appeal was denied as his service-connected lumbar spine degenerative disc disease, bilateral knee injury residuals with chondromalacia and degenerative joint disease, and left ankle injury residuals with arthritis do not warrant an increased disability evaluation.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for headaches and a back condition are being remanded due to the need for additional development, including scheduling of VA examinations and obtaining outstanding records.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's claims for service connection for various conditions, including ear disease, hypertension, diabetes mellitus, sleep apnea, left knee disorder, right knee disorder, bilateral foot disorder, GERD, cramps in legs and feet, back disorder, headaches, arthritis of the hands, and skin infection of the feet are not supported by the evidence. The Board finds that there is no competent medical evidence linking these conditions to service or any period thereof.

The Board found that the Veteran's lumbar spondylolisthesis with lumbar fusion, status post compression fracture, multilevel, with degenerative disc space narrowing and arthritis did not meet the criteria for a higher rating as his range of motion was within normal limits or less than 30 degrees.

The Veteran's appeal has been dismissed as the representative withdrew the appeal prior to a decision being made.

The Veteran's claim for a TDIU rating is being remanded due to the need for additional development, including a VA examination and opinion regarding his employability given his service-connected disabilities.

The Board has determined that new and material evidence has not been received to reopen the Veteran's claim of service connection for a back disorder, as the submitted evidence is cumulative and redundant.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's claim for service connection for a back disability cannot be reopened because no new and material evidence was submitted, resulting in a denial of the reopening request.

The Board finds that the Veteran's death was not caused by a service-connected disability, and therefore, denies the claim for service connection for the cause of the Veteran's death.

The Board has ordered a remand to obtain additional service and medical records, including those from the Veteran's reserve service. The Veteran is also asked to provide any relevant VA or non-VA treatment records.

The Board found that the Veteran's current low back condition is not related to his service, as there was no residual pathology from a fall during service in 1969. The examiner opined that it is more likely than not that the Veteran's present back problems are not due to any back injury he had while on active duty.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings and reopening of a service connection claim were denied. The asthma rating was found to be appropriate, as the FEV-1/FVC ratio is within the range for a 30% disability rating. The degenerative joint disease and disc condition did not meet criteria for higher ratings.

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

The Board found that a chronic lumbar spine disability, to include arthritis and degenerative disc disease, was not incurred or aggravated as a result of active service nor may service connection be presumed.

The Board found that the Veteran's neck, thoracolumbar spine, and left leg disabilities were not incurred or aggravated by service. The evidence did not establish continuity of symptomatology since service.