Back / lumbar spine Board decisions

The Board has reopened the veteran's claim of entitlement to service connection for a right shoulder disorder and granted service connection for several other disorders, including hearing loss, tinnitus, pneumothorax residuals, abdomen disorder, penis numbness, and skin disorder (chloracne).

The Board has determined that the veteran's current arthritis of the lumbar spine and right knee are related to his service-connected left leg disability, granting service connection for these conditions.

The Board has granted service connection for degenerative disc disease of the cervical spine and low back disorder, finding that these conditions are related to service. The claim for reopening a low back disorder was also granted.

The veteran's appeal is being remanded for further development of his claim, including obtaining Social Security Administration records and treatment records from specific physicians.

The Board has determined that the veteran's degenerative joint disease of the low back and hips are related to service, granting these claims. The separate rating for arthritis as a residual of a right hand crush injury is also granted.

The Board has granted a 40 percent rating for the veteran's service-connected low back disability, which includes lumbosacral strain and degenerative disc disease. The condition is rated based on its current manifestations without considering any presumptive exposure or other theories of service connection.

The Board found that the veteran did not incur any permanent injury to his neck, low back, or left knee during service and has no evidence of chronic disability related to these conditions. The current disabilities are attributed to post-service motor vehicle accidents.

The Board found no competent evidence linking the veteran's current low back disorder to his service, and denied his claim for service connection.

The Board denied reopening the veteran's claims for service connection due to lack of new and material evidence. The current back disorder and bilateral pterygium were not shown during service, nor are they related to service.

The Board found that the veteran's kidney disability was not incurred in or aggravated by his active duty service and denied his claim for service connection.

The Board has determined that the veteran's low back injury sustained during service is presumed to have resulted in chronic residuals, and thus grants service connection for a low back disorder.

The Board has granted the veteran's claim for service connection for residuals of a low back injury, finding that his current disability is related to an in-service injury.

The Board has reopened the veteran's claim for service connection for a back disorder and granted it, finding that there is sufficient evidence to support the claim based on in-service injuries.

The veteran is seeking an earlier effective date for a 40 percent rating for his service-connected degenerative disc disease (DDD) at L4-5 with conversion reaction. The Board has remanded the case due to procedural issues related to the Veterans Claims Assistance Act of 2000.

The Board has determined that new and material evidence has been received to reopen the veteran's claims for PTSD, but not for a back disorder or psychiatric disorder. The gastrointestinal and skin disorders are not service-connected due to lack of evidence.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for earlier effective dates for his lumbar and thoracic spine disabilities, finding that the evidence did not support an increase in disability prior to the dates assigned.,For the thoracic spine disability, the Board found that entitlement arose on October 4, 1984, but no earlier, warranting a 40% evaluation effective from that date.

The Board found that the veteran's current low back disorder was not incurred or aggravated during his active service and denied his claim for service connection.

The veteran's service-connected degenerative disc disease L4-5, bulging annulus with deformity of the ventral thecal sac is rated at 40 percent disabling. The other issues on appeal are also granted.

The veteran is seeking an increased rating for his service-connected lumbosacral disc disease, currently rated at 10 percent. The Board has remanded the case to allow for further development and consideration of the claim.

The Board is remanding the case for further development due to procedural errors in notification and assistance under the VCAA.