Back / lumbar spine decisions — 2005

The veteran's claims for service connection are being remanded due to the need for additional medical records and examination.

The Board has determined that the veteran's claimed disabilities of the lumbosacral spine, cervical spine, and left shoulder did not result from disease or injury during active military service. The claims for these conditions are therefore denied.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for osteoarthritis of the left knee and residuals of lumbar spine surgery, herniated disc L4-5 as secondary to osteoarthritis of the left knee. The Board found that there was no evidence linking these conditions to service or any incident therein.

The veteran's appeal is being remanded due to the need for additional medical records and personnel information. The Board will attempt to obtain these records and provide a new decision based on the updated evidence.

The Board has remanded the case due to new evidence submitted by the veteran, including MRI results. The VA will conduct additional examinations and provide a medical opinion on whether the inguinal hernia and low back disorder are related to service.

The veteran's claim for service connection for degenerative disc disease at L4-5 is remanded due to the need for additional development, including obtaining medical records and a VA examination.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for numbness in the hands, depressive disorder, and upper back disorder. The claim for bilateral knee disorder was not reopened due to lack of new and material evidence. The claim for low back disorder was also not reopened due to lack of new and material evidence. The claim for right ankle disability was not reopened due to lack of new and material evidence.

The Board denied an increased rating for the veteran's lumbar spine arthritis, finding that the disability does not meet or approximate the criteria for a higher evaluation.

The Board has granted a 20 percent disability rating for lumbosacral strain with degenerative disc disease, effective June 3, 2004. The veteran's service-connected back disability was previously rated at 10 percent prior to this date.

The veteran's service-connected low back disability, diagnosed as mechanical low back pain, is manifested by no more than very slight intermittent limitation of motion without significant or permanent loss of spinal function, neurologic symptoms, or abnormal radiologic findings. The schedular criteria for a rating in excess of 40 percent have not been met at any time during the appellate period.

The veteran's claim for a total disability rating based on unemployability due to service-connected disabilities is being remanded for further development, including obtaining medical records and considering extra-schedular considerations.

The Board has determined that the veteran's lumbosacral muscle strain, with L5-S1 radiculopathy, warrants a rating of 20 percent under Diagnostic Code 5292.

The veteran's low back disability is currently rated at 20 percent, effective April 18, 2001. The ratings for the stress fractures of the right and left tibia are both noncompensable.

The veteran is seeking service connection for a low back disability that is secondary to his service-connected residuals of a gunshot wound to the left chest and bilateral knee disabilities. The appeal is currently remanded due to VCAA compliance issues.

The Board has denied the veteran's claims for service connection for various conditions, including bronchitis, irritable bowel syndrome, restless leg syndrome, lumbar spine disability, cervical spine disability, coronary artery disease, arthritis of the knees, hips, shoulders, elbows, and hands. The decision also denies service connection for bilateral hearing loss.

The Board has reopened the veteran's claim for service connection for a back disorder, but further development is needed to determine if his condition was incurred or aggravated during military service.

The Board found that the veteran's back condition existed prior to service and was not aggravated by service, thus denying his claim for service connection.

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

The veteran's low back disability was granted a higher rating of 40 percent effective September 12, 2001.

The veteran is seeking service connection for cervical and lumbar spine disorders, but the claims are being remanded due to incomplete medical records and a need for further examination.