Back / lumbar spine decisions — 2006

The Board found no evidence linking the veteran's current low back condition to his active duty service and denied his claim for service connection.

The Board found that the veteran's service-connected lumbosacral strain did not meet or approximate criteria for a higher rating than 40 percent, as it did not result in pronounced intervertebral disc syndrome with persistent symptoms compatible with sciatic neuropathy.

The Board finds that the veteran has a current back disability and grants service connection for chronic lumbar syndrome, bilateral L5 and S1 radiculopathy, and central disc protrusion at L5-S1. The claim for psychiatric disorder is denied.

The veteran's claim for increased ratings for lumbar disc disease and migraine headaches was denied. The RO assigned a 20 percent rating for the veteran's service-connected lumbar disc disease with history of lumbar strain from December 20, 2003.

The Board has denied the veteran's claims for a rating in excess of 10 percent for his lower back disability, service connection for hypertension secondary to arthritis pain, and service connection for right knee and shoulder disabilities. The reasons are provided within the decision.

The Board has reopened the veteran's previously denied claims for service connection of a low back disorder and bilateral knee pain, but has denied these claims on the merits.

The Board has remanded the case due to the need for additional development, including a medical examination and clarification of the etiology of the veteran's back disorder.

The veteran's claims for increased ratings for bilateral pes planus, lower back disability, and left knee disability were denied as the evidence did not meet the criteria for a higher rating under the applicable VA regulations.

The veteran withdrew all his claims on appeal prior to the promulgation of a decision.

The Board has determined that the veteran's degenerative disc disease, status post laminotomy with radiculopathy is not related to his service-connected low back strain and thus denied service connection for this condition.

The veteran's claims for service connection are being remanded due to the need to obtain his service medical records and VA treatment records. The Board will also schedule examinations to determine the nature, extent, and etiology of his claimed disabilities.

The Board found no evidence of a left knee, right knee, or low back disorder that was incurred during service and denied the veteran's claims.

The Board found that the July 1969 denial of service connection for a back disability is final, as no notice was provided to the veteran.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for arthritis of the lumbar spine and an increased rating for residuals of a gunshot wound to the lumbar area due to his failure to appear for scheduled VA examinations.

The veteran's claims for increased evaluations and a total rating based on individual unemployability were denied. The reduction of the evaluation for his right foot ganglion cyst excision scar residuals from 10 percent to noncompensable effective as April 1, 2006 was found improper.

The veteran's claims for service connection for various disabilities, including low back, left shoulder, bilateral knee, wrist and hand, and foot disorders are denied as there is no evidence of current disability related to service.

The Board has determined that the veteran's low back condition is related to his active duty service and grants the claim of service connection for this condition.

The Board denied service connection for PTSD, low back disorder, bilateral shoulder disorder, and memory loss due to the lack of current diagnoses related to these conditions. The veteran's service medical records were negative for complaints or diagnoses of any of these conditions.

The veteran's appeal is remanded for additional development, including obtaining treatment records and scheduling a VA examination.

The veteran's claims for service connection were denied. The RO found no evidence of the claimed conditions during or within one year after his periods of active duty, and there was no medical opinion linking any current disabilities to his military service.