Back / lumbar spine decisions — 2012

The Veteran withdrew his claims for bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, and dizziness prior to the Board's decision.

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

The Board found no evidence linking the Veteran's current L5-S1 lumbar disk disease to his active service, including a mortar attack in Vietnam. The VA examiner concluded that the condition was more likely due to the Veteran's farming and aging rather than military service.

The Veteran's appeal for service connection for bilateral hearing loss was dismissed due to untimely filing. The initial rating claims for left knee strain, right knee strain, degenerative disc disease of the lower back, and cervical spondylotic changes are still pending.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims of service connection for various conditions, finding that there was no evidence of a separate chronic headache disorder or other disabilities warranting separate ratings. The current rating for sinusitis is 30 percent and does not meet criteria for an increased rating.

The Board denied the Veteran's request to reopen his claim for service connection for a lumbar strain disability, finding that no new and material evidence had been submitted.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including obtaining service treatment records and verifying the Veteran's periods of active duty, ADSW, and ACDUTRA. The Veteran is seeking service connection for bilateral hearing loss, a back disability, a right hip disability, and left groin pain.

The Board has reopened the Veteran's claim for service connection for a back disability and granted it. The Veteran was diagnosed with lumbar degenerative arthritis that is traceable to his military service.

The Board denied reopening the claim for service connection for a back disorder due to lack of new and material evidence, as there was no chronic back disorder in service or within one year after separation.

The Board found no evidence of a chronic right shoulder or back disability in service, and the Veteran's current disabilities are not related to his active duty. Headaches were also not shown to be due to an undiagnosed illness.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's current low back disability, diagnosed as DDD and DJD, is not causally related to his active service. The VA examiner found it less likely than not that the current condition is linked to the in-service low back strain.

The Board has determined that further development is necessary before a decision can be reached on the merits of the Veteran's claim for an increased rating for arthritic changes of the lumbar spine.

The Board has granted service connection for chronic bronchitis, finding that the Veteran's respiratory disorder had its onset during active duty. The lumbar spine disorder claim is remanded due to insufficient evidence regarding its etiology.

The Board has reopened the Veteran's claims for service connection for various conditions, but has not reached a final decision on their merits. The Veteran's tuberculosis was denied as not having been incurred in or aggravated by his active duty service.

The Veteran's low back disability is not considered to be related to his military service.

The Board found that the Veteran's cervical and lumbar spine disabilities, to the extent present since filing his claims, were less likely than not caused by or related to his military service, including especially his immediately preceding service during 2001 while on ACDUTRA.

The Veteran's claim for increased ratings for his service-connected low back disability and associated radiculopathy was denied by the Board. The Veteran's low back disability is currently rated as 20 percent disabling, effective August 1, 2006.

The Board has decided to remand the Veteran's claims of entitlement to service connection for dizziness and a back disability due to additional development being required.

The Board has remanded the case for a VA examination to determine if the Veteran's current back disability is related to his service, specifically an inservice injury in June 1949. The examiner should consider both the Veteran's lay history and medical evidence.

The Board has determined that additional development is needed in connection with the Veteran's claims for service connection, including an examination to address whether his current lumbar spine, hip, and right flank disorders are related to his service-connected disabilities.