Back / lumbar spine decisions — 2006

The veteran's claims for higher evaluations of her service-connected lumbar strain and bilateral wrist tendonitis since September 26, 2003, and September 12, 2001, respectively, were denied as there is no evidence that the conditions have resulted in functional loss or impairment warranting a higher evaluation.

The veteran's claimed disabilities, including fatigue, memory loss, breathing problems, joint pain, and skin rash, were not present during his active military service or are not related to such service. The Board denied the claims for these conditions.

The Board found that there is no evidence linking the veteran's current prostate, low back, or knee disorders to his military service. The claims for service connection were denied.

The Board has determined that the appellant does not have a psychiatric disability other than PTSD or a low back disability that is related to his military service. The claims are therefore denied.

The Board denied service connection for back injury and chronic lung disorder, finding no evidence of a nexus between the disabilities and active service.

The Board finds that the preponderance of the evidence is against the veteran's claim for service connection for back condition, to include as secondary to a service-connected right knee disability. The VA examiner opined it is unlikely that the symptoms associated with the low back are directly related to the condition of his right knee.

The veteran's claims for service connection are being remanded due to incomplete records and the need for further development, including obtaining medical records and scheduling a VA examination.

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

The Board found no evidence to support the veteran's claims for service connection of his low back, bilateral shoulder, and upper back/neck injuries. The VA examiner concluded that these conditions are not related to his military service.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for various conditions, including bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, PTSD, back injury, migraine headaches, amnesia, metastatic lesions of the spine, degenerative disc disease, and spina bifida occulta. The Board found that there was no evidence linking these conditions to his military service.

The Board denied service connection for an eye disability, a lumbar spine disability, and a bilateral knee disability due to the lack of evidence linking these conditions to active service.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for an increased rating for his right ankle disability and service connection for a back disability, including as secondary to his right ankle disability. The RO had previously granted a 20% evaluation for the right ankle disability.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for an increased evaluation for his low back strain and for a total disability rating based on individual unemployability. The veteran's service-connected low back strain is currently evaluated at 20 percent.

The Board denied the veteran's increased disability evaluations for residuals of a lumbar strain, chondromalacia of the left knee, and chondromalacia of the right knee as his service-connected conditions do not warrant higher ratings under the applicable criteria.

The Board has denied the veteran's claims for service connection for cervical spine, lumbar spine, and hip disorders as secondary to his service-connected right knee disability due to a lack of medical evidence linking these conditions to his service-connected condition.

The Board found no evidence of a low back disability during service or within one year thereafter, and concluded that the veteran's current low back disability is not related to his period of active military service.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for an increased rating for his service-connected chronic low back strain and denied service connection for a bilateral leg disability as secondary to his service-connected low back strain.

The veteran's appeal is being remanded for further adjudication, including consideration of the schedular rating and extraschedular considerations. The case will be referred to the Undersecretary for Benefits or the Director, Compensation and Pension Service if a higher rating than 100 percent is not achieved.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including VA examinations to obtain etiology opinions regarding the veteran's claimed back, hip and hearing loss disabilities. The veteran was not provided with proper VCAA notice.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for increased evaluation for organic brain syndrome, service connection for a bowel and/or bladder disorder, and service connection for degenerative lumbar disc disease with left sciatica. The effective date of the grant of service connection for degenerative lumbar disc disease was determined to be February 10, 1992.