Back / lumbar spine decisions — 2012

The Board denied a separate compensable rating for objective neurological abnormalities associated with the Veteran's service-connected lumbosacral spine disability.

The Board has granted service connection for tinnitus, bilateral hearing loss, and other conditions based on in-service exposure to noise and physical trauma. The Veteran's current symptoms are consistent with his reported history of service-connected disabilities.

The Veteran's lumbar spine disability is service-connected as a direct result of an in-service injury.,His right foot drop is secondary to his lumbar spine disability.

The Board finds that the Veteran's lumbar spine disability is not etiologically related to active service and is not proximately due to, the result of, or aggravated by a service-connected disease or injury.

The Veteran's lumbosacral disc disease warrants staged ratings of 20 percent prior to October 2, 2006; and 40 percent (but no higher) from that date.

The VA Board has determined that the Veteran's current low back conditions are not related to his service, and thus denied both claims for service connection.

The VA determined that the Veteran's current left knee, right knee, and low back disabilities were not incurred or aggravated by active military service.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for a lumbar spine disability, as well as his increased rating claims for osteochondroma of the left hip and osteoarthritis of the right hip. The VA examiners concluded that there was no medical nexus between the Veteran's current lumbar spine disability and his service or any other condition.

The Board has determined that new and material evidence has not been received to reopen the Veteran's claims for service connection for a lumbar spine disability and right ankle disability. The claim remains denied.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining medical records and a VA examination to determine the nature and etiology of his claimed disabilities.

The Board has determined that the Veteran does not have a lower lumbar disorder that is related to his active duty service. The claim for service connection is denied.

The Board found no evidence of a chronic low back condition related to service, and concluded that the Veteran's current low back disability is not connected to his military service.

The Veteran's claims for service connection were denied, and the claim to reopen a back disorder was also denied. The Veteran's PTSD is currently rated at 70 percent.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for hearing loss, tinnitus, low back condition, and left ankle disability were denied as there was no evidence of a chronic disability related to service or post-service treatment. The Board found the Veteran's contentions regarding continuity of symptomatology since service to be not credible.

The Board has reopened the Veteran's claim of service connection for a low back disability with bilateral lower extremity radiculopathy and granted it, finding that new evidence supports the claim.

The Veteran's cervical spine disability has been rated at 10 percent since April 2004, and the claim for TDIU prior to August 3, 2011 is granted.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not preclude him from securing or following substantially gainful employment, and thus does not meet the criteria for a total disability rating based on individual unemployability.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's lumbar spine disorder did not onset in service and is not causally related to service. The right knee disorder issue remains pending as it was not addressed in this decision.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's service treatment records are unavailable and have been destroyed. The case is being remanded for further development, including obtaining medical records from private providers and scheduling a VA examination to determine if any current back disability is related to service.

The Board found that the Veteran's current low back disability is not related to his military service or his service-connected bilateral knee disabilities, and thus denied his claim for service connection.