Back / lumbar spine decisions — 2006

The Board found that the appellant's low back disability did not meet or approximate the criteria for a higher rating under the applicable diagnostic codes, and thus denied his claim for an increased rating.

The Board has determined that the effective dates for service connection of the veteran's claimed disabilities cannot be earlier than March 22, 2001 as no claims were received prior to this date.

The Board has granted service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus, finding that the veteran's conditions are at least as likely as not related to his military service. The claims for back and neck disorders remain pending.

The Board has denied the veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss and a back disability. The claim to reopen for a psychiatric disorder is granted, but further development is needed as the evidence does not indicate that his current psychiatric condition is related to service.

The Board has determined that the veteran's degenerative joint disease of the lumbar spine had its onset during service and is related to his period of active duty. The claim for diabetes mellitus was denied as there is no competent evidence linking it to service or exposure to herbicides.

The VA denied increased evaluations for the veteran's degenerative disc disease of the lumbar and cervical spines, as they do not meet the criteria for higher ratings under the applicable diagnostic codes.

The Board has determined that the veteran's lumbosacral strain and left knee disorder do not warrant higher initial ratings under either the old or new rating criteria.

The veteran's claim for an increased evaluation of his lumbosacral spine disability is denied. However, a separate 20% evaluation is granted for the associated right leg neurological deficit effective September 23, 2002. The claim for SMC based on loss of use of the right foot due to service-connected disability is also denied.

The Board finds that the veteran's low back disorder began during service and grants service connection for a low back disability.

The Board has remanded the case due to a need for additional VCAA notice.

The veteran's appeal is dismissed due to his death.

The Board denied the veteran's claim for a disability rating in excess of 40 percent for low back strain, finding that his symptoms did not meet the criteria for a higher rating under either the preexisting or revised rating criteria.

The Board has denied service connection for left plantar fasciitis and remanded the issues of service connection for low back disability and an initial compensable evaluation for right plantar fasciitis.

The Board found no new and material evidence to reopen the veteran's claims for service connection for a lumbar spine condition and chronic myalgia, right hip. The current medical evidence does not establish a link between these conditions and service.

The Board has determined that the veteran's low back and bilateral knee disabilities are not proximately due to or the result of his service-connected flatfeet. The claims for increased ratings for flatfeet and conversion reaction have been denied.

The Board has decided to remand the case for further development, including a new VA medical examination and compliance with VCAA notice requirements.

The veteran's claim for an increased rating for her service-connected back disability is being remanded due to the need for additional medical examination and notification.

The veteran's claim for an extension of a temporary total disability evaluation was granted by the Board, as he required convalescence following surgery on his service-connected left wrist arthritis and cervical spine degenerative disc disease.

The veteran's appeal has been dismissed due to his death during the pendency of the appeal.

The Board found no evidence of a nexus between the veteran's current hearing loss, tinnitus, colon disability (gastrointestinal reflux disease), and back disability and his military service. The preponderance of the evidence is against all claims for service connection.