Back / lumbar spine decisions — 2005

The veteran's increased ratings for his left ankle disability from June 27, 1994 to November 30, 2004 and December 1, 2004 to September 20, 2005 have been denied.,Service connection for a back condition as secondary to service-connected bilateral pes planus is not addressed in this decision.

The Board found that the veteran's current back condition is not shown to be incurred in or aggravated by service, nor is it proximately due to or the result of a service-connected disability.

The Board found no clear and unmistakable error in the April 1981 RO decision that denied service connection for a back condition.

The veteran's claim for an earlier effective date for dependency allowance was denied as he did not submit the necessary form to request additional compensation for dependents within one year of receiving notification of his qualifying disability rating.

The veteran's claims for service connection for sinusitis, acquired psychiatric disorder, low back disability, and stomach disability were denied. The Board found that new and material evidence had not been received to reopen the claims of acquired psychiatric disorder and low back disability.

The VA determined that the veteran's low back disorder does not meet or approximate the criteria for a rating in excess of 10 percent.

The veteran's claims for service connection for mitral valve prolapse and increased evaluations for his lumbar spine and right ankle disabilities were denied, but he was granted separate initial evaluations of 10 percent each for traumatic arthritis of the lumbar spine and status post fracture, right ankle with retained hardware and traumatic arthritis.

The Board has remanded the case to the RO for further development, including obtaining updated VA records and private medical evidence. The veteran should be examined to determine the nature and etiology of his current disabilities and their relationship to service-connected conditions.

The Board has determined that the veteran's low back and chronic headache disabilities are not related to his active service.

The veteran is seeking to reopen his previously denied claim of service connection for a back disability. The Board has determined that new and material evidence has not been submitted, thus the claim remains in denial.

The Board has remanded the case due to issues related to service connection for a right foot disability and a back disability, requiring further examination and review of the evidence.

The Board has granted a rating of 40 percent for the service-connected lumbosacral strain, which is more than the current 20 percent rating. The criteria for this increased rating include severe functional limitation due to pain.

The veteran's symptoms of fatigue, loss of energy, joint discomfort (neck, low back, right shoulder), memory loss, headaches, anxiety, fevers, skin rash, boils, and disability secondary to reaction to chemicals are not considered service-connected due to lack of evidence supporting their causation by an undiagnosed illness. Service connection is granted for neck, back, and right shoulder discomfort as manifestations of an undiagnosed illness.

The Board has determined that the veteran's service connection claims for a back disability and a right knee disability have been denied as there is no evidence linking these disabilities to his military service.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for residuals of low back, left shoulder, and neck injuries, finding that there was no persuasive medical nexus evidence linking these conditions to his military service.

The VA determined that the veteran's low back disability was not caused by or aggravated by VA medical treatment in March 1998, and thus compensation under 38 U.S.C.A. § 1151 is denied.

The Board has granted a rating of 20 percent for the veteran's service-connected chronic low back pain, which was previously rated at 10 percent.

The Board has denied the veteran's claims of service connection for residuals of frostbite and a back disability, finding that she does not have current diagnoses of these conditions.

The Board has denied the veteran's claims of entitlement to service connection for a chronic cervical spine disability and a chronic low back disability, finding that there is no evidence linking these conditions to his military service.

The VA denied an initial rating higher than 10 percent for the veteran's low back disability, finding that his condition does not meet criteria warranting a higher evaluation.