Back / lumbar spine decisions — 2006

The Board found that the veteran's lumbar disc syndrome was not incurred in or aggravated by military service.

The Board has determined that the veteran's current back disorder is not related to his period of active service, and thus denied his claim for service connection.

The veteran's arthritis of the knees is service-connected, and his low back disability is proximately due to or the result of his knee problems. The claim for a total compensation rating based on individual unemployability due to service-connected disability (tinnitus) is held in abeyance pending resolution of the tinnitus appeal.

The veteran's claim for an increased rating for his service-connected lumbosacral strain is being remanded due to the need to address whether his degenerative disc disease is part and parcel of this disability.

The Board granted a 60 percent rating for cervical strain, with traumatic arthritis and degenerative disc disease. The claim of reopening the service connection for bilateral shoulder disability was also granted.

The Board found that the veteran's back disability was not incurred in or aggravated by service and denied his claim for service connection.

The Board found that the veteran's current low back disability is not causally related to his period of active service and denied his claim for service connection.

The Board has determined that the veteran's service-connected lumbar spine disability does not warrant a higher rating under the applicable schedular criteria, as her symptoms do not meet or approximate the criteria for a higher evaluation. The RO considered an extraschedular evaluation but found no evidence of such exceptional circumstances.

The veteran's left TMJ syndrome is rated at 30 percent since March 28, 2001.,For the period prior to March 28, 2001, a 30 percent rating for left TMJ syndrome is granted.

The Board has determined that the veteran does not have a current low back injury or disorder related to service, and thus denied his claim for service connection.

The Board denied service connection for a back disability and denied compensable and increased ratings for gunshot wound residuals of the left upper arm. The evidence did not establish that the veteran's current back disability was related to his military service, while there were no records of treatment for back complaints until 1987.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for increased disability rating and TDIU, but granted an effective date of September 20, 2000 for a 40 percent evaluation for his service-connected low back strain.

The VA has determined that the veteran's degenerative disc disease of the lumbar spine at L5-S1 does not warrant a higher disability rating, as it does not meet the criteria for an increased evaluation under any applicable diagnostic codes.

The Board has determined that the veteran's lumbosacral strain does not meet or approximate criteria for a disability rating in excess of 20 percent.

The Board has denied the veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss, low back disability, and left knee disability. The claim for an initial compensable rating for hemorrhoids is remanded.

The Board denied the veteran's claim for service connection for a lower back disorder, finding no competent medical evidence linking his current condition to active service.

The veteran's service-connected disabilities do not require aid and attendance or render him housebound.

The VA has denied the veteran's claim for an initial rating in excess of 40 percent for his service-connected chronic recurrent low back strain, finding that the evidence does not support a higher rating based on current symptomatology.

The Board found that the veteran's upper and mid-back disorders are not related to his service-connected head trauma.,The Board also found that the veteran's tinnitus is not related to his service-connected head trauma.

The veteran's claim for increased evaluations for his low back disability was denied. The RO granted a 20 percent evaluation effective September 26, 2003, but the veteran is still seeking higher ratings.