Back / lumbar spine decisions — 2005

The Board finds that the veteran's current low back disability and PTSD are not related to service. The evidence does not support a finding of in-service stressors for PTSD, and there is no medical evidence linking the current disabilities to service.

The Board has granted the veteran's claims for service connection for low back disability, right leg pain, and bilateral hip pain. The increased rating claim was also granted.

The veteran's claim for SMC at the housebound rate was granted effective April 27, 1987. The veteran is entitled to this benefit due to his service-connected disabilities and inability to manage daily activities without assistance.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for disc disease with degenerative changes of the lumbosacral spine, hypertension secondary to lumbosacral strain, and psychiatric disability secondary to lumbosacral strain. The claim for a higher rating for lumbosacral strain was also denied.

The Board has granted service connection for degenerative disc disease of the lumbar spine and assigned a 20 percent rating effective December 12, 1990. The veteran's thoracolumbar spine disability is currently manifested by no more than moderate range of motion loss.

The veteran's claim for an initial rating in excess of 20 percent for a low back strain with disc bulging is being remanded due to the need for additional development, including obtaining VA medical records and scheduling the veteran for another VA examination.

The Board found no evidence of a current bilateral ankle condition or low back disorder related to service, and denied the veteran's claims for service connection and an increased rating.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for hearing loss, a lumbar spine disability, and residuals of a fracture of the left femur. The Board found that there was no evidence of an impaired hearing disability for VA compensation purposes, no diagnosed lumbar spine disorder related to active duty, and no aggravation of a pre-existing condition during service.

The veteran's claim for an increased initial rating of 20 percent for degenerative joint disease of the lumbar spine was denied due to her failure to report for a scheduled VA examination without good cause.

The Board has determined that the veteran's chronic neck and low back pain, diagnosed as chronic myofascial pain syndrome, was incurred in service.

The Board denied service connection for a back disorder, right hip disorder, and psychiatric disorder as secondary to the service-connected right knee disability.

The Board found that the veteran's current low back disabilities, including degenerative disc disease and arthritis, were not present during service or for many years thereafter. The evidence does not support a connection between his current disability and any incident of active duty.

The veteran's lumbosacral strain was granted an initial rating of 10 percent effective January 27, 2005.,The veteran's left great toe disorder was granted an initial compensable (10%) rating effective January 27, 2005. The sinusitis issue remains unresolved.

The veteran's claim for service connection for a chronic back disability, including lumbosacral strain, lumbar scoliosis, extensive degenerative changes in the lumbar spine and osteophyte formation at multiple levels is being remanded due to insufficient evidence regarding the relationship between his current disabilities and service.

The Board has denied the veteran's request to reopen his claim for service connection for a back disability, finding that no new and material evidence was submitted.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including obtaining medical records and scheduling a VA examination. The veteran's claims of increased ratings for his knee and wrist disabilities, as well as service connection for hip and back disorders, are pending.

The veteran's appeal is being remanded for further examination and evaluation due to the potential need for a new rating based on his service-connected degenerative disc disease of the lumbar spine at L4-5, as well as clarification regarding his temporary total rating under 38 C.F.R. � 4.30.

The Board has remanded the case for further development due to a lack of adequate medical evidence supporting the veteran's claims.

The Board has determined that there is no medical evidence linking the veteran's current cervical spine, low back, or bilateral heel disabilities to his military service. As a result, the claims for these conditions are denied.

The veteran's claims for service connection and increased rating were denied. The Board found that the evidence did not support a finding of service connection or entitlement to an increased rating.