Back / lumbar spine decisions — 2006

The Board has determined that the veteran did not have a low back disorder or left knee disorder in service, and any such disorders are not related to his service-connected left hip disorder. Therefore, service connection for these conditions is denied.

The Board has determined that the veteran's current psychiatric disability, diagnosed as major depression, generalized anxiety disorder and social anxiety disorder, originated during his active military service. The issue of a low back disability is addressed in the REMAND section.

The Board denied service connection for residuals of a cervical spine fracture, but granted service connection for lumbar strain. The veteran's claim was not about service connection at all.

The veteran's claim for compensation under the provisions of 38 U.S.C.A. § 1151 for additional disability due to a CT myelogram is granted, and his claim for increased evaluation for degenerative joint disease of the lumbar spine is also granted.

The Board denied all claims, finding that the veteran's current conditions do not meet the criteria for a higher rating for his right knee disability and did not establish service connection for left knee or DDD at L4-S1.

The Board found that the veteran's neck pain was not caused by his active military service and denied service connection for this condition. The initial compensable rating, disability evaluation, and TDIU claims are also addressed in the decision.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development due to incomplete records and functional loss issues.

The Board has reopened the claim for service connection for a left knee disability and granted it. The low back disability is rated at 20 percent, effective from the date of the decision.

The Board found that the veteran's current back disability is not related to his active military service and denied his claim.

The veteran's service was less than 90 days, and there is no evidence that he was discharged for a service-connected disability or had such a disability at the time of discharge. The Board denied basic eligibility for nonservice-connected disability pension benefits.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including obtaining medical records and scheduling VA examinations to determine the etiology of the veteran's claimed back disability, tinnitus, and hearing loss.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for increased ratings for residuals of right thigh gunshot wound and right leg shortening, as well as his claim for service connection for degenerative disc disease of the cervical and lumbar spines. The evidence did not support higher evaluations based on the current extent of disability.

The VA found no additional back disability resulting from the December 2002 surgical treatment, and thus denied compensation under 38 U.S.C.A. § 1151.

The Board has determined that the effective date for the grant of TDIU should be November 17, 1986, as this is when the veteran's combined disability evaluation reached 60 percent.

The Board denied the veteran's application to reopen his claim of entitlement to service connection for a low back disability due to lack of new and material evidence.

The Board has decided to remand the case for further development, including a physical examination and consideration of the veteran's claim for service connection for a back disorder as secondary to his service-connected left knee disabilities.

The Board has determined that the preponderance of the evidence is against a compensable rating for residuals of a right lumbar area shell fragment wound and scar.

The Board has granted a rating of 20 percent for the veteran's cervical degenerative joint and disc disease, effective from September 26, 2003. The ratings for lumbar degenerative joint and disc disease and left carpal tunnel syndrome remain at 20 percent and noncompensable respectively.

The Board has denied the veteran's claims for service connection for hearing loss, left knee disorder, and low back disorder due to a lack of evidence linking these conditions to his military service.

The Board has determined that the veteran's degenerative disc disease of the lumbosacral spine is related to his service, granting service connection for this condition.