Back / lumbar spine decisions — 2005

The Board has determined that the veteran does not have any chronic disabilities involving his wrists, hands, right leg, left knee or low back that were incurred during service. The VA examiner found no significant objective disability in these areas and concluded there was no service-connected disability.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for dorsolumbar paravertebral myositis and dysthymic disorder, finding that new evidence did not reopen the previously denied claim.

The Board found no evidence of a chronic low back disability during service or for several years thereafter, and the weight of the evidence is against the veteran's assertion of a connection to service.

The Board has determined that the veteran's kidney disease, back disability, and hip disability were not incurred or aggravated during service. The evidence does not support a finding of service connection for these conditions.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection of a low back disorder as secondary to his shell fragment wounds and an evaluation in excess of 10 percent for his dorsal spine disability. The evidence did not support a finding that these conditions were related to his service-connected injuries.

The veteran's claim for an increased evaluation for his lumbosacral myofascial pain/osteoarthritic degeneration with radicular symptoms was denied by the Board, as the evidence did not support a rating in excess of 20 percent.

The veteran's lumbosacral strain was initially rated as noncompensable prior to April 13, 2004. Since that date, he has been assigned a 10 percent rating.

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

The veteran's low back disorder is currently rated at 40 percent for the period beginning February 20, 2002. The RO has not granted a higher rating for the period prior to that date.

The veteran's claim for an increased disability rating for his service-connected degenerative joint disease of the lumbar spine is being remanded due to a lack of recent VA examination and further development is needed.

The Board has remanded the veteran's claims for increased evaluations and initial evaluations, directing that all necessary development be completed before further adjudication.

The Board denied the veteran's request for an earlier effective date of May 16, 2001 for his TDIU due to unemployability caused by service-connected disabilities. The evidence did not show that he was unemployable prior to this date.

The veteran's claims for service connection for a bilateral knee condition, headaches, and low back disorder are being remanded due to the need for additional medical examination.

The Board has determined that the veteran's knee and low back disabilities were not incurred or aggravated during his military service, nor can they be presumed to have been so incurred. The evidence does not support a finding of chronic disability in service or within one year thereafter.

The Board denied service connection for the claimed conditions, including dental disorder, back disorder, pneumonia residuals, neurogenic bowel, neurogenic bladder, and bipolar disorder, all of which were deemed to be not related to active service. The effective dates for service connection were also denied.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient medical evidence regarding whether the veteran's low back disability is service-connected.

The Board has granted service connection for a thoracic spine disability and assigned a 10% rating effective July 10, 2001. The veteran's lumbar spine disability is rated at 40%. Both conditions are currently evaluated under the criteria for limitation of motion.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for Reiter's syndrome and depression, as well as his attempts to reopen claims for bilateral foot disorder and back disorder. The evidence did not support these claims.

The Board denied an increased rating for the service-connected lumbosacral strain, finding that the disability did not meet criteria for a higher rating due to lack of severe symptoms or incapacitating episodes.

The Board has dismissed the appeal due to the appellant's withdrawal of his appeal.