Back / lumbar spine decisions — 2005

The Board has granted an increased rating of 20 percent for the veteran's service-connected IVDS of the thoracolumbar spine, effective from December 10, 2003.

The Board found that the veteran's back disorders, including degenerative disc disease of the cervical spine and lumbosacral strain, were not related to her service. The VA examinations and medical records did not support a link between her current conditions and any incident in service.

The Board denied service connection for low back disorder, right knee disorder, hypertension, tuberculosis, and psychiatric disorder. The veteran's claims were not supported by competent evidence of a nexus between the current disabilities and his military service.

The veteran's service-connected conditions were granted with noncompensable ratings. The Board remanded the case to ensure proper notice and assistance, but no further actions are required as the veteran has received all intended benefits of VCAA.

The VA granted a rating of 20 percent for the veteran's service-connected chronic lumbosacral strain, effective October 2001. The current disability is manifested by moderate limitation of motion and negative X-ray findings.

The veteran is granted increased initial ratings for gout, hypertensive CVD, HTN, and low back disability.,For gout, the rating is set at 20 percent from August 1, 1997 to December 1, 2001.

The veteran's claim for TDIU was denied due to his failure to report for scheduled VA examinations. The RO again denied the claim in a March 2005 supplemental statement of the case (SSOC).

The veteran's appeal has been withdrawn, and the case is dismissed.

The Board denied the reopening of a previously denied knee disability claim and upheld the current rating for low back disorder. The veteran's knee issues were not substantiated by new evidence, while his low back disorder was evaluated at its current level.

The Board has determined that the veteran's current back disability did not result from disease or injury during military service, and arthritis was not manifested within a year thereafter. Therefore, the claim for service connection is denied.

The Board denied service connection for a back disability, finding that the veteran's current back disabilities did not begin during military service or within one year of separation.

The Board has determined that the veteran's current lumbar spine disorder, including degenerative spondylosis and narrowing of L4-L5 and L5-S1 disc spaces, was caused in part by his active duty military service. The claim for hiatal hernia with GERD is denied as there is no medical evidence linking it to service.

The veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining medical records and conducting examinations to determine the nature of his service-connected conditions and any new or changed disabilities. The case will be reviewed again after these actions are completed.

The veteran's death was not caused by service-connected conditions. Service connection for chronic liver disease due to Agent Orange exposure is denied, but the claimant received an increased rating for his lumbar strain.

The Board found that the veteran's back and right knee disabilities are not related to his military service, and thus denied both claims.

The Board has determined that the veteran's lumbar spine injury does not meet or approximate the criteria for a disability rating in excess of 20 percent.

The Board denied an increased rating for the veteran's left forearm shell fragment wound and denied service connection for his low back disability, finding no more than moderate injury to muscle group VII from the left forearm wound and no evidence of a nexus between the low back disability and service-connected knee disabilities.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for increased ratings, finding that the evidence did not meet the criteria for a higher disability rating under the applicable diagnostic codes.

The veteran failed to report for scheduled VA examinations, resulting in the denial of his increased rating claim for low back strain.

The Board found that the appellant's chronic back disability was not incurred in or aggravated by service, and denied his claim for service connection.