Back / lumbar spine decisions — 2006

The Board has found no current evidence of a low back disability and the veteran's subjective complaints are not accompanied by any objective abnormalities. Therefore, service connection for a low back disorder is denied.

The veteran's lumbosacral strain, degenerative arthritis, and total disc space loss are currently rated at 40 percent. The Board found that the current rating is appropriate given the limited range of motion.

The Board has determined that the veteran's lumbar spine disability warrants a rating of 60 percent prior to February 19, 2001 and a rating of 40 percent thereafter. The effective date for this decision is not specified as there was no specific request for an earlier effective date.

The Board granted an increased rating of 20 percent for the veteran's degenerative disc disease of the lumbar spine, which was initially evaluated as 10 percent disabling. The evaluation for migraine headaches with vision disturbances remains at 10 percent.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for a back disorder and an earlier effective date for the grant of service connection for residuals of a right knee meniscectomy with chondromalacia and osteoarthritic changes.

The VA denied an initial evaluation in excess of 20 percent for degenerative changes of the lumbar spine, as the veteran's condition does not meet the criteria for a higher rating based on limitation of motion or other factors.

The veteran is seeking to establish service connection for arthritis of the lumbar spine. The Board has determined that a remand is necessary to obtain an examination and opinion regarding whether his current back pain began during active service.

The Board has dismissed the veteran's claims for service connection of lumbar, thoracic, and cervical spine disabilities and arthritis of the shoulders. The claim for an increased rating for alcoholism was denied. The reduction in the left triceps disability rating from 30 to 10 percent was not proper.

The Board granted a higher initial rating of 20 percent for the veteran's low back strain, effective from September 19, 2002. The decision also addressed an increased rating for mild incomplete sciatic nerve paralysis.

The Board found that the veteran's claimed lumbosacral/right hip disorder was not incurred in or aggravated by service, nor is it related to a service-connected disability. The claim for service connection was denied.

The Board has determined that there is no current diagnosis of malaria or residuals thereof, and the evidence does not support a finding that the veteran's current back disorder or right ankle disorder are related to his military service. As such, service connection for these conditions cannot be granted.

The Board has determined that the veteran's low back disability, claimed as spinal stenosis secondary to spondylolisthesis of L5 on S1, was not incurred in or aggravated by active military service and is not presumed due to exposure to Agent Orange. The claim for service connection is denied.

The veteran's claims for increased evaluations of his low back and right leg disabilities were denied. The Board affirmed the 40 percent evaluation assigned for the veteran's back disability, but granted a separate 20 percent evaluation for neuralgia of the right leg.

The Board has determined that the veteran's current lumbar spine disorder is not related to service, and therefore denied his claim for service connection.

The Board has granted service connection for degenerative joint disease of the low back, right knee disorder, and left knee disorder. The application to reopen claims for bilateral leg disorder and low back disorder was denied due to lack of new and material evidence.

The Board has granted the veteran's claim for a 50 percent rating for anxiety, effective July 20, 1992. The issue of service connection for a lower back disability and bilateral pes planus is denied.

The Board found that the veteran's current back symptoms are due to her nonservice-connected spondylosis and degenerative changes of the lumbar spine, which were unrelated to her service-connected low back strain.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for a back disability and residuals of a right hand injury, finding that there was no evidence linking these conditions to his military service.

The VA determined that the veteran's current lower back disability is not related to his military service, and thus denied his claim for service connection.

The VA denied an increased evaluation for the veteran's service-connected compression fracture of T12 and L3, currently rated at 50 percent.