Back / lumbar spine decisions — 2006

The veteran's lumbosacral strain, including herniated disc on the right, is rated at 40 percent. Separate ratings of 10 percent are assigned for pain in the left leg and pain in the right leg, both from September 23, 2002.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for increased ratings for his service-connected right hip and lumbar spine disabilities, finding that the evidence did not meet the criteria for a higher rating under the applicable VA rating schedule.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for higher initial ratings for his left and right knee arthritis, as well as his cervical spine DDD. The evidence did not support a rating higher than 10 percent for any of these conditions.

The veteran's lumbar spine disability is rated at 60 percent, and his cervical spine disability is rated at 40 percent. The right shoulder disorder and left shoulder disorder are both rated at 10 percent each.

The veteran's left wrist disability is rated at 30 percent prior to June 30, 2000 and from that date. The lumbar spine disability is rated at 60 percent prior to February 23, 2000 and from that date.,The veteran's left elbow chip fracture does not warrant a compensable rating.

Your appeal is being remanded to the RO for a DRO hearing. The veteran wishes to have a hearing before a Decision Review Officer (DRO) at the St. Louis, Missouri Regional Office.

The Board denied service connection for the cause of the veteran's death, finding that his fatal cardiac arrhythmia was not caused by any disease or injury incurred in service.

The Board denied the claim for an increased rating for residuals of a lumbosacral spine laminectomy and discectomy with a herniated nucleus pulposus, finding that the evidence did not show pronounced intervertebral disc syndrome or separately ratable neurological manifestations due to the service-connected lumbar spine disorder.

The veteran's service-connected disabilities do not render him unemployable due to their severity, as his educational and occupational background allow for substantially gainful employment.

The veteran's low back disability, manifested by pronounced intervertebral disc syndrome with muscle spasm and intermittent relief of symptoms, warrants a 60 percent rating under the revised criteria for evaluating intervertebral disc syndrome.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for increased ratings for hypertension and low back strain, finding that the evidence did not meet the criteria for higher ratings under the applicable rating criteria.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for residuals of a right hand injury, increased rating for degenerative disc disease of the cervical spine with radiculopathy to the right shoulder, and compensable rating for laceration scar of the right wrist.

The veteran's lumbosacral strain has been rated at 10 percent since the rating period on appeal, and a higher rating is denied.

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

The Board found that there is no competent medical evidence establishing a nexus between any current disabilities and the veteran's active service. Therefore, the claims for service connection were denied.

The Board found that the veteran's low back disability, as evaluated at 20 percent, did not meet or approximate criteria for a higher rating under VA regulations.

The Board found no evidence of a low back disorder or neck injury in service, and concluded that any current disorders are not related to service. The claim for service connection was denied.

The Board has determined that the veteran's current right shoulder, cervical spine, and low back disabilities are not related to his military service.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development due to the need to obtain SSA medical evidence.

The Board denied the veteran's request to reopen his previously denied claim of service connection for a low back disability, finding that the new evidence submitted did not raise a reasonable possibility of substantiating the claim.