Back / lumbar spine decisions — 2005

The Board has reopened the claim for service connection for post-traumatic arthritis of the right glenohumeral joint and granted a 60 percent evaluation for lumbar spine disability. The claims for skin disorder and prostatitis were denied.

The Board denied the appellant's claims for service connection for PTSD, a multi-level back condition, bilateral heel spurs and multiple joint arthralgias, and flat feet, hallux valgus and second hammer toes, bilateral. The Board found that these conditions were not shown to have been present during active duty or due to in-service injuries.

The veteran has withdrawn his appeal concerning the ratings for left elbow tendonitis and bilateral pes planus, leaving only the rating for low back disorder to be decided.

The veteran's service-connected disabilities do not meet the criteria for a TDIU rating as they are rated at less than 60% combined, and there is no evidence that he is unable to secure or follow substantially gainful employment due to his service-connected conditions.

The veteran's low back disability, characterized by degenerative disc disease and herniated discs at L3-L4 and L4-L5, is currently rated as 60 percent disabling due to severe limitation of motion. The rating for osteomyelitis of the left knee remains unchanged.

The veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining medical records and scheduling a VA examination to determine the effect of his service-connected low back disability on his ability to use lower extremities.

The Board has determined that the veteran does not have a current disability related to her service, specifically no head injury or back condition. The claims for visual problems, headaches and ringing in the ears are also denied as there is insufficient evidence linking these conditions to service.

The Board has granted the veteran's claim to reopen and service connection for degenerative joint disease of the lumbar spine as secondary to a low back injury sustained in service.

The veteran's claim is being remanded for additional development of his medical records and a VA examination to determine the severity of his low back disability.

The VA denied the veteran's claims for increased ratings for his service-connected left hip strain, degenerative disc disease of the lumbosacral spine (formerly lumbosacral strain), and right patella tendon repair.

The Board has determined that the veteran's claimed back and left shoulder disorders are not related to his military service.

The Board found that the veteran's current back disability was not incurred or aggravated by service and denied his claim for service connection.

The Board has reopened the veteran's claim for service connection for a low back disorder due to new and material evidence. However, further development is needed as the cause of his current low back pathology must be determined.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for various knee, back, and hip disabilities. The evidence did not support a finding that these conditions were incurred in or aggravated by service, or related to his service-connected right femur fracture.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for residuals of a ganglion cyst of the left wrist, and for initial evaluations higher than 20 percent for lumbosacral strain with arthritis and noncompensable for dyshidrotic eczema of the hands.

The Board has determined that the veteran's low back disability, which developed as a result of an injury during service in 1982, is related to his period of active service and grants the claim for service connection.

The Board has found new and material evidence to reopen the veteran's claim of service connection for a back disability, which was previously denied in July 1992. The case is remanded for further development.

The VA determined that the veteran's service-connected low back disability, characterized as lumbosacral strain, does not warrant a rating in excess of 10 percent.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for increased disability rating, service connection, special monthly compensation, and automobile and adaptive equipment as his conditions were not related to service or any other basis.

The Board has determined that new and material evidence has not been received to reopen the previously denied claim for service connection for a low back disability.