Back / lumbar spine decisions — 2005

The veteran's left hip fracture is rated at 40 percent, her low back disability at 20 percent, and her left knee arthralgia at 60 percent. The combined rating for the left knee disability does not exceed 60 percent, which is the maximum allowed.

The Board denied service connection for a left knee condition and a low back condition as secondary to a service-connected ankle disability, finding no evidence of a current diagnosis or a nexus between the conditions and any in-service injury or disease.

The veteran's combined service-connected rating is 60 percent, which does not meet the requirement for a TDIU based on her service-connected disabilities.

The Board found that the veteran does not have current right shoulder, ankle, back, or vasectomy-related disabilities that are service-connected. The VA examinations did not reveal any chronic conditions related to military service.

The veteran's claim for increased ratings for lumbosacral strain with healed compression fractures at D12, L1 and L2 was denied. The RO initially granted a 10 percent rating in February 1979, which has been adjusted to 20 percent effective December 2, 2004.

The Board has determined that there is no evidence to support a finding of a chronic lumbar spine disability during service or related to the veteran's right foot disability, and thus denied the claim for service connection.

The Board has remanded the case for further development, including a VA examination to determine if the veteran's current back disability is related to his military service.

The Board has determined that the veteran's postoperative residuals of degenerative disc disease of the lumbosacral spine warrant a 40 percent evaluation for limitation of motion of the lumbosacral spine, a 10 percent evaluation for impairment of the right sciatic nerve, and a 10 percent evaluation for a surgical scar.

The Board has denied the veteran's claims for service connection for left knee, right knee, and low back disabilities as well as a noncompensable rating for bilateral hearing loss.

The Board has remanded the case for further development, including obtaining additional medical records and scheduling a VA examination. The claims will be reconsidered based on all available evidence.

The Board found no evidence of a chronic low back disability in service or within one year post-service, and denied the veteran's claims for direct and secondary service connection.

The veteran's PTSD is service-connected and a 60 percent evaluation for his back disability has been granted effective January 29, 1993.,A total evaluation based on individual unemployability due to service-connected disabilities has also been granted.

The Board has determined that the veteran's low back disability was not incurred or aggravated by service, and no presumption of service connection applies. The preponderance of evidence does not support a finding that the current low back disability is related to service.

The veteran's claim for service connection for degenerative disc disease with degenerative osteoarthritis at L4-5 (claimed as lumbar strain) was denied because there is no medical evidence of a link between his current disability and military service.

The veteran's claims for increased evaluations for his low back and neck disabilities were denied. The low back disability was not rated higher than 40 percent, while the neck disability received a compensable evaluation prior to July 13, 2001, but no rating has been assigned since that date.

The Board has determined that further development is necessary for the veteran's claims, including obtaining medical records and work history information. The case will be remanded to the RO/AMC for these purposes.

The Board has determined that the veteran's degenerative joint disease of the lumbosacral spine is related to service, while his residuals of an injury (other than a cold injury) to the legs are not. The claim for residuals of an injury to the legs is denied.

The Board denied service connection for low back disability, headaches, acquired psychiatric disorder (PTSD), and fibromyalgia due to lack of evidence linking these conditions to the veteran's military service.

The Board has denied the veteran's claims for service connection for peripheral neuropathy, lumbar spine disability, and cervical spine disability. The decision found that there was no evidence linking these conditions to his time in service or to a service-connected condition.

The veteran's migraine headaches are rated at 50 percent effective December 21, 2001. His low back disability is rated at 10 percent since March 17, 1997. The Board has granted service connection for his right and left knee disabilities, pancreatitis, inguinal hernia, sinusitis, and arthritis of the feet and knees.