Back / lumbar spine decisions — 2005

The VA denied the veteran's claim for an increased evaluation for his lumbosacral strain, currently rated at 20 percent.

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

The Board found that the evidence did not establish a low back injury incurred during service, and thus denied the claim for service connection.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for degenerative arthritis of both shoulders and an increased rating for low back strain, finding no competent medical evidence linking these conditions to his service-connected knee disabilities.

The veteran's claims for service connection and increased evaluations were denied. The Board found that scleroderma was not incurred in or aggravated by service, and the disability manifested by painful joints and fatigue and/or nausea is not related to service or undiagnosed illness.

The Board has granted service connection for the veteran's degenerative joint disease of the lumbar spine, finding that new and material evidence had been submitted to reopen the claim.

The veteran's claim for an increased rating for traumatic arthritis of the thoracolumbar spine with mild radicular involvement, right lower extremity was granted. The effective date is April 16, 2005. The veteran also received a grant for his residuals of traumatic arthritis of the cervical spine.

The Board found that the veteran's service-connected hemorrhoids and chronic low back tendonitis do not warrant higher ratings under either the old or new rating criteria. The veteran's hemorrhoids are currently rated at 10 percent, while his low back disability is rated at 20 percent.

The Board has determined that the veteran does not have a right shoulder disability, low back disability, or generalized osteoarthritis that is related to his military service.

The veteran's appeal is remanded for additional development, including scheduling a personal hearing and issuing a statement of the case on his claim for a total disability compensation rating based on individual unemployability due to service-connected disability.

The Board has denied the veteran's claim for an initial evaluation in excess of 20 percent for degenerative disc disease with moderate facet arthropathy of the lumbar spine.

The Board denied service connection for a lumbar spine disability, right knee disability, and cervical spine disability. The veteran's claim of reopening the cervical spine disability was also denied.

The Board found that the veteran's cervical spine disability did not meet or approximate the criteria for a rating in excess of 10 percent prior to September 26, 2003 and as of September 26, 2003. The effective date remains at September 26, 2003.

The Board denied a rating higher than the current 40 percent for service-connected lumbar spine disability, to include degenerative disc disease.

The Board has determined that the veteran's current low back disability is not related to his military service and therefore denied his claim for service connection.

The Board found that the veteran's current low back disability and arthritis were not incurred in or aggravated by his military service, and thus denied his claim for service connection.

The Board has denied the veteran's claims for service connection for a neck disorder, bilateral leg disorder, and back disorder due to lack of evidence showing these conditions were incurred during active military duty.

The Board found that the veteran's osteoarthritis of the lumbosacral spine was not related to his time in service and denied his claim for service connection.

The Board has determined that the veteran's low back disability, including arthritis and degenerative disc disease, was not incurred or aggravated in service.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for dorsal spine arthritis, prostate cancer (claimed secondary to left varicocele), and arthritis of both knees, lumbar spine, and sacroiliac joints. The appeals were not granted.