Back / lumbar spine decisions — 2005

The Board denied service connection for spondylolisthesis and spondylosis with degenerative disc disease of the lumbar spine, finding that these conditions were not incurred in or related to military service.

The Board has denied the veteran's claims of service connection for a back disorder and an eye disorder, finding that there is no evidence to support these claims based on his military service.

The veteran's low back disability was previously rated at 10 percent and has now been increased to 40 percent effective September 26, 2003.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for headaches, a back disability, a foot disability, a leg disability, and a shoulder disability. The June 1979 motorcycle accident was determined to have resulted from the veteran's own willful misconduct and alcohol abuse and not in the line of duty.

The veteran's right and left knee conditions have been granted service connection, with initial non-compensable ratings from January 2, 2001 to October 14, 2004. The RO has now assigned a compensable rating of 10 percent for each knee since October 15, 2004.,The veteran's lumbosacral strain was also granted service connection with an initial non-compensable rating.

The Board granted a 40 percent disability evaluation for the veteran's lumbosacral strain effective from September 26, 2003. The granddaughter dependent status issue remains pending.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including obtaining medical records and arranging for VA examinations to determine the etiology of the claimed disabilities.

The veteran's low back disorder is rated at 40 percent, but the Board finds that this rating does not meet the criteria for a higher evaluation under either the old or new VA Rating Schedule.

The veteran's appeal is being remanded to obtain additional information and for further development.

The Board found no evidence of chronic cervical or lumbar spine disorders during active service and denied the veteran's claims for service connection.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for low back, left knee, heart (other than hypertension), and liver disorders in May 1995 and October 1996 due to a lack of evidence of chronic disabilities associated with service.

The Board has determined that there is no current disability of the right foot or great toe, and thus service connection for these conditions cannot be granted. The Board also found insufficient evidence to establish a nexus between any current hip or back disabilities and military service.

The veteran's bilateral pes planus with hammertoes was granted an increased rating to 10 percent effective March 5, 2003. Service connection for a back disability was remanded.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including a new examination to determine if any low back disorder is related to or caused by the service-connected left knee disorder. The veteran's claim will be readjudicated after this additional development.

The Board has denied the veteran's claim for service connection for a low back disability.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including obtaining medical records and scheduling a VA examination to determine if the veteran's current back disorder is related to service.

The veteran seeks service connection for a low back disorder, which he claims was caused by an injury sustained during military service. The Board has determined that further development is needed to properly evaluate his claim.

The Board found that the veteran's low back/tailbone disability was not incurred in or aggravated by active service and arthritis of the lumbosacral spine could not be presumed to have been incurred in or aggravated by active service.

The VA granted a 20 percent disability rating for the veteran's degenerative disc disease, L5-S1, effective December 30, 1999.

The veteran's claim for increased ratings for his low back disability was denied. The Board found the evidence did not meet the criteria for an initial rating higher than 20 percent prior to September 20, 1999, or a rating higher than 40 percent as of that date.