Back / lumbar spine decisions — 2005

The Board denied service connection for lumbosacral strain and tinnitus, finding no evidence of a pre-existing condition or aggravation during service.

The Board has remanded the case due to an incomplete record regarding the veteran's service dates, which is necessary to determine if his back disability was incurred or aggravated during military service.

The Board has determined that the veteran currently suffers from chronic hemorrhoids that were first manifest during service, and thus grants service connection for hemorrhoids. The claim for low back disability is remanded as VA needs to provide a medical examination and nexus opinion.

The Board has denied the veteran's claims for an increased rating for his service-connected low back disability and entitlement to a total disability evaluation based on individual unemployability. The RO found that the veteran's current disability does not meet the schedular requirements for assignment of a higher disability rating.

The Board has determined that the veteran's current low back disability, manifested by bulging discs at L4-L5 and L5-L6, is a result of an injury sustained during his active duty service. Service connection for this condition is granted.

The Board has granted service connection for a low back disorder as secondary to residuals of a laceration wound of the right foot and has awarded a 20 percent disability rating for residuals of a laceration wound of the right foot.

The Board denied the veteran's claim to reopen his service connection for a back disorder and denied his claims for initial ratings for Osgood-Schlatter disease with degenerative arthritis of both knees. The evidence submitted since the last final denial did not raise a reasonable possibility of substantiating the claim.

The veteran's low back disorders, diagnosed as lumbosacral strain and intervertebral disc space narrowing of the L5-S1, are found to be service-connected.,A diagnosis of hemangioblastoma of the second cervical vertebra is noted. The examiner opined that it was not likely related to exposure to toxic gases.

The veteran's lumbar spine DDD was rated at 20 percent prior to July 19, 1999. The Board found that the evidence did not meet the criteria for a rating in excess of 20 percent.

The Board denied service connection for a chronic back disorder, a chronic gastrointestinal disorder (gastroesophageal reflux disease), and a chronic bilateral foot disorder. The evidence did not establish a nexus between any of these conditions and the veteran's military service.

The veteran's claim for an increased rating for his service-connected low back disability was granted, with a current evaluation of 10 percent. The effective date remains unchanged at the date of the initial grant of service connection in July 1970.

The Board found that the veteran's low back disorder was not incurred in or aggravated by service and is not proximately due to or the result of a service-connected bilateral knee disorder.

The Board has determined that the veteran does not have a left knee or back disability that is related to service, and specifically denies service connection for these conditions.

The Board has determined that the veteran's low back strain with lumbar disc disease warrants a 60 percent disability rating effective September 4, 2002.

The veteran's service connection claim for a bilateral knee disability is granted as the current mild degenerative joint disease of the knees was at least as likely as not related to his active duty service.

The Board has granted service connection for a low back disability, finding that the veteran's current condition is related to an injury sustained in service.

The veteran withdrew his appeal for service connection of a back condition prior to the Board's decision.

The Board has remanded the veteran's claims for service connection for a low back disorder and PTSD due to insufficient evidence, including lack of specific details about stressors. The case will be returned to the RO for further development.

The veteran's appeal is remanded due to recent developments and changes in rating criteria. Additional medical records, including SSA records, are needed for a thorough evaluation of his disability.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development due to missing records and examination.