Back / lumbar spine decisions — 2011

The Board has determined that the Veteran's multi-joint arthritis involving multiple joints, including right knee, right ankle, right hip, left hip, cervical spine, and lumbosacral spine is related to service. Service connection for these conditions is granted.

The Veteran's tinnitus was not incurred in or aggravated by active service. The Board found that the preponderance of evidence is against his claim for service connection for tinnitus.

The Board has determined that there is no competent and credible evidence linking the Veteran's current low back, neck, or right eye disabilities to her active service. As a result, she cannot establish service connection for these conditions.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's current left and right knee disorders are not related to his military service, while his back disorder is denied due to lack of evidence. The claims for these conditions have been denied.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims of service connection for a lumbar spine disorder and a left ear disorder, finding that there was no evidence to support these conditions were incurred or aggravated by military service.

The Veteran's chronic low back pain with traumatic arthritis is rated at 40 percent, which is the maximum schedular rating available under VA guidelines. Separate ratings of 10 percent each are assigned for left and right lower extremity neuropathy.

The Veteran is seeking service connection for cervical spine degenerative disc disease. The claim was remanded due to inadequate opinion regarding the onset of the condition and whether it is related to his service-connected lumbar strain, degenerative disc disease, and facet syndrome.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's pre-existing low back disorder was aggravated by his military service, and thus service connection is granted.

The Board found that the Veteran's low back disability is not related to service or any service-connected condition, and thus denied service connection for a low back disability.

The Veteran's lumbosacral strain with L4-S1 disc disease and osteophytes is currently rated at 40 percent, which is the maximum schedular rating available. The radiculopathy of both lower extremities has been granted a separate 10 percent evaluation.

The Veteran's degenerative joint disease of the lumbosacral spine is manifested by severe limitation of motion and functional impairment due to pain. The evidence does not show neurological manifestations or intervertebral disc syndrome.

The Board has denied service connection for low back disability and hypertension, finding no evidence of a nexus to service. Service connection for bilateral hearing loss remains pending.

The Veteran's back disorder and post-concussion syndrome were not incurred in or aggravated by service. The Board finds that the evidence does not support a finding of service connection for these conditions.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for a low back disability, finding that there was no evidence linking his current condition to his military service.

The Veteran's claim for a higher disability rating for his lumbosacral spine strain is being remanded due to the need for additional medical examination and development of records.

The Board has granted a 30 percent disability rating for Eustachian tube dysfunction, effective from the date of the decision. The Veteran's tinnitus and bilateral hearing loss are already service-connected with respective ratings.

The Board found no evidence to support service connection for a cervical spine disorder and denied the Veteran's claim. For his thoracolumbar spine disability, the Board determined that an initial evaluation in excess of 10 percent was not warranted.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for various conditions, including an acquired psychiatric disorder, a right shoulder disorder, bilateral hearing loss, refractive error of the eye, allergies, left arm numbness and loss of function, and a low back disorder. The evidence does not support these claims.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings and service connection were granted, with the exception of the claim for loss of use of the left arm. The lumbar spine disability was rated at 60 percent disabling, while the cervical spine disability was rated at 20 percent.

The Veteran is granted a 20 percent rating for low back strain effective April 11, 2006. The increase in disability was factually ascertainable within one year of the claim.