Back / lumbar spine decisions — 2005

The Board has remanded the case due to incomplete medical records and a need for additional examination regarding the veteran's claimed conditions.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for increased ratings for lumbosacral strain and headaches, finding that the evidence did not meet the criteria for a compensable evaluation or an increase in rating.

The Board denied a rating in excess of 20 percent for the veteran's service-connected low back disability, characterized as spondylolysis at L5 with mechanical low back pain.

The VA determined that the veteran's service-connected scoliosis of the lumbar spine does not result in any functional impairment, and thus does not warrant a higher rating.

The Board denied service connection for a low back disorder, finding that the veteran's current condition is not related to his military service.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for increased ratings for his right knee strain and degenerative joint disease of the lumbar spine, finding that there was no evidence to support a higher rating under applicable diagnostic codes.

The Board has determined that the veteran's neck and low back disorders are not related to his service, including any in-service injuries. The claims for service connection have been denied.

The veteran's physical disabilities, including chronic lumbar strain and degenerative disease of the cervical spine, do not meet the criteria for a permanent and total disability rating for VA pension purposes due to their combined effect on his ability to maintain substantially gainful employment.

The Board has remanded the case for a VA examination to determine if the veteran has any chronic spine and/or back disability, including lumbosacral spine degenerative disc disease. The examiner should assess whether these disabilities are related to active service.

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

The veteran's appeal involves multiple service connection claims for various disabilities, including spinal issues, psychiatric disorders, and musculoskeletal problems. The case is being remanded to obtain additional medical records from the veteran's reserve duty period.

The Board has determined that the veteran's low back disability warrants a 40 percent evaluation, effective from September 23, 2002.

The Board has denied the veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss and status post lumbar laminectomy and diskectomy, finding that there is no evidence of a current disability related to his military service.

The Board has reopened the veteran's claims for service connection for right and left knee disorders, but denied them on the merits. The low back disorder claim remains pending.

The veteran's lumbar strain disability was rated at 10 percent from January 29, 2001 to August 8, 2002. The RO denied his request for an earlier effective date of August 9, 2002 for a 40 percent rating due to the presence of disc bulge and degenerative changes. His current disability rating remains at 40 percent.

The Board has determined that the veteran does not have any of the claimed conditions and therefore, service connection is denied for all issues.

The Board found that the veteran's degenerative joint disease of the lumbar and cervical spine was not incurred in or aggravated by service, may not be presumed to have been incurred in service, and was not proximately due to or the result of a service-connected disability.

The Board has denied the veteran's claims for service connection for low back, bilateral leg disorders (claimed as cramp), and cardiovascular disability. The evidence received since the April 1997 decision does not provide new or material evidence to support these claims.

The veteran's claims for a higher rating for his intervertebral disc syndrome of the lumbar spine and TDIU are being remanded due to incomplete records. The VA will attempt to obtain relevant medical records, including those from private providers, and arrange for an examination to assess the severity of his disability.

The Board denied service connection for chronic low back and left hip disorders, finding that current diagnoses are not related to the veteran's active service or a service-connected disability.