Back / lumbar spine Board decisions

The Board has remanded the case for further development, including obtaining a VA medical opinion and ensuring compliance with VCAA requirements.

The Board denied service connection for a low back disability, traumatic macular scar with amblyopia of the left eye, and uveitis of the right eye. The veteran's low back disability is not related to service, his left eye disorder existed prior to entry into service, and there is no clear and unmistakable evidence that it was aggravated during service.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for increased rating for his chronic lumbar strain and degenerative disc disease, as well as service connection for a bilateral knee disability. The initial rating of 10 percent was granted prior to August 6, 2004, but not in excess of that level thereafter.

The Board has determined that the veteran does not have a current low back disorder, and his left shoulder disorder did not increase in severity during service. The Board also found no evidence of a current left knee disorder related to service.

The Board has determined that the veteran's low back disorder and tinnitus residuals are not service-connected, with no compensable evaluations assigned.

The Board found that the veteran's current low back disorder, including degenerative disc disease of the lumbar spine, is related to service. However, interstitial fibrosis (claimed as asbestosis) was not incurred in or aggravated by military service.

The Board denied an earlier effective date for the grant of service connection for degenerative disc disease of the lumbar spine, L4-L5 and L5-S1, with radiculopathy and spondylosis and degenerative joint disease.

The Board found that the veteran's low back disorder was not incurred in or aggravated by active military service.

The Board has determined that new and material evidence has been received to reopen the veteran's claims for service connection for low back disability and residuals of a punctured right ear drum. The reopened claims are both granted.

The Board denied service connection for pes planus, low back disability, heart disorder (pericarditis), bilateral hearing loss, right knee disability, and hallux valgus of the feet. The veteran's preexisting conditions were not shown to be aggravated by military service.

The VA denied an increased rating for the veteran's service-connected thoracolumbar spine disability from December 1, 1998 to November 13, 2000.

The Board has determined that the veteran does not have current disabilities of the cervical or lumbar spines, and thus service connection for these conditions is denied.

The Board denied service connection for hypertension and an increased rating for degenerative disc disease of the cervical spine, finding that there was no evidence linking these conditions to service.

The Board has granted a disability rating of 60 percent for the veteran's service-connected low back disability, effective from the date of the decision.

The veteran's service-connected thoracolumbar and cervical spine disabilities have been rated as they are, with no additional ratings granted.

The Board found that the service-connected disabilities did not cause or contribute to the veteran's death, and thus denied the claim for service connection for the cause of the veteran's death.

The veteran's claims for residuals, shrapnel wound, right leg; jungle rot of the feet; and a back condition are denied as not shown during service or related to service.

The Board denied service connection for DJD of the lumbar spine and left SI joint, a skin condition, and PTSD. The veteran's claims were not granted.

The Board has granted the veteran's claim to reopen his service connection for low back disability, finding that new and material evidence has been presented.

The Board found that the veteran does not have current left ear hearing loss disability for VA purposes and denied service connection for this condition. For the low back disability, the Board concluded there is no evidence of a current disability related to in-service injury or disease.