Back / lumbar spine decisions — 2005

The veteran's appeal is denied as his claim for a rating in excess of 30 percent for residuals of chip fracture, left hip, with traumatic arthritis was denied. His claims for service connection were also denied, but he was granted new and material evidence to reopen the claim for degenerative disc disease of the lumbar spine with left radiculopathy, status post laminectomy at L5, secondary to his service-connected left hip disorder.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including obtaining service medical records and post-service medical records to determine if a back injury occurred during service and is related to current disability.

The Board denied reopening of the veteran's previously denied claims for service connection for back and right knee disabilities.

The veteran's degenerative disc disease and arthritis of the thoracolumbosacral spine are rated at 60 percent, which is the highest possible rating under the General Rating Formula for Diseases and Injuries of the Spine.

The Board has reopened the veteran's claim for service connection for a back disorder, finding that new and material evidence has been submitted. The case is remanded to obtain additional medical records and arrange for a VA spine examination.

The Board has determined that the veteran's claims for service connection have not been reopened due to lack of new and material evidence.

The Board found that the veteran's low back disability was not incurred in or aggravated by service, and denied her claim.

The Board has denied the veteran's attempts to reopen his claims for service connection for back and bilateral foot disabilities, finding no new and material evidence.

The Board has determined that the veteran does not have a current disability of the low back or either knee, and thus denied his claims for service connection.

The veteran's claim for an increased evaluation of his service-connected traumatic arthritis of the lumbar spine was denied. The disability had been rated at 20 percent since August 5, 1994, and this decision upheld that rating.

The Board has denied all service connection claims for various conditions, finding no competent evidence of current disabilities related to the veteran's recognized military service.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for increased disability ratings for his lumbosacral strain, finding that the evidence did not support a higher rating prior to September 26, 2003 and since then.

The VA denied the veteran's claim for an increased rating for her service-connected lumbosacral strain, currently evaluated at 20 percent. The RO found that there was no evidence of intervertebral disc syndrome or other manifestations warranting a higher evaluation.

The Board found no evidence of a low back injury or disability in service, and denied the veteran's claim for service connection.

The Board has granted service connection for a back disorder, right knee disorder, and left knee disorder. The evidence supports the finding of chronic disorders in service.

The Board granted an initial 60 percent rating for herniated disc disease with spinal stenosis and discospondylosis of the lumbosacral spine, effective from January 12, 1995.

The veteran's claim for an increased rating for his service-connected chronic low back pain with compression fractures and spondylosis of the lower thoracic and upper lumbar spine was denied. The Board found no evidence to support a higher evaluation under any applicable diagnostic codes.

The VA denied the veteran's claim for an increased evaluation of his lumbosacral strain, currently rated at 40 percent. The evidence did not meet the criteria for a higher rating.

The Board has vacated the previous decision and granted service connection for a bilateral shoulder disorder, but denied increased ratings for traumatic arthritis of the lumbar spine and bilateral hearing loss.

The Board has determined that the veteran's current low back disability with paraplegia and right knee disability were not caused or permanently worsened by his service-connected residuals of a gunshot wound to the left thigh. Therefore, secondary service connection is denied.