Back / lumbar spine Board decisions

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not render him unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection of his low back disorder and knee medial meniscus tears, as well as effective dates prior to December 22, 2006 for hip disorders. The appeal is remanded for further development.

The Veteran's low back disorder was initially granted service connection with a 10 percent rating. The appeal sought higher ratings for different periods of time, and the Board found that the criteria were not met for any staged ratings in excess of the initial 10 percent assigned.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for a low back disorder and an increased rating for hypertension, finding no evidence of a link between these conditions and his military service. The claim for an earlier effective date for the hypertension rating was also denied.

The Board has determined that the evidence received since the June 1959 rating decision is not new and material, and therefore, the claim of entitlement to service connection for mouth tumors, to include as due to ionizing radiation exposure, is not reopened.

The Board found that the Veteran's low back and left knee disabilities were not incurred or aggravated by service, as his conditions are presumed to have existed prior to service. The evidence did not support a finding of direct service connection for either condition.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development of his medical records and readjudication.

The Board found no evidence to support the Veteran's claims for service connection of his lumbar and knee disorders, concluding that they are not related to his military service.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for residuals of a back, neck, and head injury as there is no evidence showing that any current disabilities are related to his military service.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for increased evaluation of left varicocele, service connection for urinary disability and sexual dysfunction as secondary to left varicocele, and service connection for low back disability. The decision found that there was no clear and unmistakable evidence that the conditions existed prior to service or were aggravated by service.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development due to incomplete service records and outstanding post-service medical records.

The Board denied service connection for heart disease and lumbosacral disability, including DDD. The Veteran's heart disease is not considered to be related to his military service or a service-connected condition. For the lumbosacral disability, there is no evidence of chronic disability within one year post-service discharge.

The Veteran's appeal is dismissed as he withdrew his appeal of the claim for Parkinson's disease. The claims for lumbosacral strain and cervical torticollis are remanded due to the need for content-compliant VCAA notice, Social Security Administration records, and further development.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded to obtain additional Social Security Administration (SSA) records and medical records related to his SSA disability determination. The claim will be readjudicated after these records are obtained.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for respiratory disability, hiatal hernia, peptic stomach disability, lumbar spine disability, and Hepatitis C were denied as the evidence does not support a current diagnosis of these conditions or their relationship to service.

The Veteran's claims for increased evaluations and service connection have been denied. The right upper arm burn scars, neuropathic pain, chronic reflux laryngitis, and allergic rhinitis and chronic sinusitis are currently evaluated at the lowest possible ratings.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities are so severe as to prevent him from engaging in substantially gainful employment, particularly preventing him from performing the physical acts necessary to engage in employment suitable to his education level and specialized training.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for a back disability and residuals of a stroke are being remanded due to the need for additional development, including obtaining in-patient records from Moncrief Army Community Hospital and Lexington Hospital.

The Veteran seeks service connection for a back disorder. The Board has determined that additional development is needed, including obtaining VA treatment records and arranging for an examination to determine the nature, extent, onset, and etiology of any diagnosed condition.

The Board found that the Veteran's current degenerative disc disease of the lumbar spine is more likely related to his military service than to any other factor, including post-service injuries and aging.