Back / lumbar spine decisions — 2005

The VA denied an initial rating in excess of 20 percent for the veteran's service-connected chronic lumbosacral strain.

The Board has remanded the case to obtain additional medical records and determine if the veteran was exposed to herbicides during service. The claims for service connection will be adjudicated based on the evidence of record.

The Board found that there was no evidence of a nexus between the veteran's current low back disorder and his service, nor could arthritis be presumed to have been incurred therein. The claim for service connection was denied.

The VA denied a higher initial rating for service-connected multiple arthralgia with low back pain, currently evaluated as 20 percent disabling.

The Board denied increased disability ratings for the veteran's service-connected meniscus degeneration of the left knee and lumbar strain, both currently rated at 10 percent.

The Board has determined that new and material evidence has been received to reopen the veteran's claim for service connection for a chronic low back disorder, which was previously denied in November 1997. The case is now reopened.

The Board is remanding the veteran's claims of entitlement to service connection for chronic right knee and back disorders due to incomplete verification of his military service records. The veteran will be given an opportunity to submit additional evidence.

The VA has denied the veteran's claim for a disability evaluation in excess of 20 percent for his lumbosacral spine disability with radiculopathy of the left lower extremity, finding that the condition is manifested by slight limitation of motion.

The Board has denied all service connection claims for various conditions, finding that the evidence does not support a causal link between any of these conditions and active military service.

The Board denied the veteran's claims to reopen his service connection for a back disability and to grant an earlier effective date for PTSD. The evidence did not meet the criteria for reopening the claim or establishing CUE.

The Board is remanding the veteran's claims for service connection due to incomplete medical records and need for further examination. The claims will be reviewed again after obtaining additional information.

The Board found that the veteran does not have a chronic bilateral carpal tunnel syndrome of service origin and denied his claim for service connection. For his lumbosacral strain with narrowed disc space at L-5/S-1, the Board concluded that there is sufficient evidence to grant a 60% evaluation based on severe symptoms.

The Board has determined that the veteran's DDD of the lumbar spine and osteoarthritis of the right knee are at least as likely as not aggravated by his service-connected left knee disorder. The claim for a right shoulder disorder is denied.

The Board denied service connection for a right foot condition and a low back condition, finding that the evidence did not show these conditions were incurred during active duty or related to his service-connected left foot disability.

The Board granted the veteran an increased rating for his service-connected back disability and special monthly pension benefits based on aid and attendance, both effective November 30, 2002.

The veteran's PTSD, hypertension, diabetes mellitus, neuropathy of the toes (claimed as stiff toes), degenerative changes of the lumbar spine, degenerative joint disease of the left foot with tarsal tunnel syndrome, and tarsal tunnel syndrome of the right lower extremity are all found to be related to his military service. Cold injuries of the left ear, other than cancer of the left ear, were also found to be related to his military service.

The Board denied the veteran's claim for an initial evaluation in excess of 10 percent for his service-connected lumbosacral strain, finding that the evidence did not warrant a higher rating under the applicable criteria.

The Board has denied the application to reopen the claim of service connection for a back disorder. The case is now remanded to provide proper notice and address whether new and material evidence has been received.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for chronic gastroenteritis and an increased rating for his low back disability. The evidence did not support a finding of service connection for gastroenteritis, and the criteria for a higher initial rating for the low back disability were not met.

The Board denied the veteran's claim for an increased rating for his service-connected lumbosacral strain, finding that the evidence did not support a rating in excess of 40 percent.