Back / lumbar spine decisions — 2012

The Veteran's appeal is denied as the Board finds that an earlier effective date for service connection of lumbar radiculopathy with two millimeter posterior disc bulges at L4-5 and L5-S1 cannot be granted. The Veteran was previously denied in 1987 and 1989, but did not respond to the RO's requests for evidence or provide a correct mailing address. His claim was deemed abandoned. He filed another request to reopen his claim on April 23, 2001, which resulted in service connection being granted effective that date.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining service treatment records and SSA disability benefits records. A VA examination of the lumbosacral spine will also be scheduled.

The Veteran's service-connected degenerative disc disease of the low back at L4 through S1 is currently rated as 40 percent disabling, and the Board finds that a higher rating is not warranted.

The Board has remanded the case for further development and to address whether the Veteran's low back disability is related to service-connected bilateral Achilles tendonitis.

The Board granted the Veteran's request to reopen his claim for service connection for a back condition, including the residuals of L1 and L2 compression fractures. The VA found that the preexisting low back disorder did not permanently increase in severity beyond its natural progression during service.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's current degenerative disc disease and disc herniation of the lumbar spine did not result from her active military service, and thus she does not meet the criteria for service connection.

The Veteran's appeal has been withdrawn, and the case is dismissed.

The Veteran's lumbar spondylosis with degenerative disc disease L4-5, L5-S1 was not rated higher than 10 percent prior to June 6, 2008 and not higher than 20 percent from that date.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for higher ratings for his service-connected IBS and lumbar spine fracture, finding that the evidence did not meet the schedular criteria for increased ratings.

The appeal has been withdrawn by the appellant through his authorized representative.

The Board has determined that new and material evidence has not been received to reopen the Veteran's claims for service connection for right ankle, right knee, and cervical and lumbar spine disabilities. The decision is mixed as some issues were denied while others are pending.

The Board denied service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, hepatitis C, headaches, a low back disability, and a hearing loss disability. Service connection was granted for right leg varicose veins with a 10 percent evaluation effective from November 22, 2006.

The Board is remanding the case to obtain additional VA treatment records and Social Security Administration records, and then to readjudicate the claims.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's residuals of a low back injury (contusion) and nasal cavity synechia with deviated nasal septum and maxillary sinusitis are related to his active service.

The Veteran's claim for an increased rating for anxiety disorder has been withdrawn. The Board grants service connection for a back disability.

The Board found that a disability of the lumbar spine, including degenerative disc disease and degenerative joint disease, was not incurred in or aggravated by service. The claim is denied.

The Board has decided to remand the case for additional development, including obtaining VA treatment records and scheduling a VA examination.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to the need for additional development, including obtaining medical records and arranging a VA examination. The appellant's claim of service connection for a low back disability will be reconsidered after these steps are completed.

The Veteran's appeal was dismissed due to the death of the appellant during the pendency of the appeal.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's low back disability is the result of a disease or injury incurred in active duty service, and therefore grants his claim for service connection.