Back / lumbar spine decisions — 2006

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

The Board has determined that the veteran's back disorder was not incurred in active service and denied his claim for service connection.

The veteran's appeal for an increased evaluation for his low back injury with degenerative joint disease has been withdrawn, thus the case is dismissed.

The Board has determined that new and material evidence has been submitted to reopen the claim of service connection for a back disorder. The case is now remanded for further development.

The Board has remanded the case due to a request for a Travel Board hearing, and the appellant's eligibility for non-service connected pension benefits is also under consideration.

The Board dismissed the issue of entitlement to service connection for a chronic low back disorder due to lack of timely filing of a Substantive Appeal. The claim was reopened based on new and material evidence, but the Board found that there is no evidence of an in-service injury or chronic condition related to military service.

The Board found no evidence of in-service injuries or conditions that could be linked to the veteran's current disabilities. The claims for service connection were denied.

The Board denied the appellant's claim for additional vocational rehabilitation training under Chapter 31, finding that his ability to complete courses for medical school did not meet the criteria for such benefits.

The Board denied increased evaluations for the veteran's low back disability and dysthymic disorder, with a final rating of 40% for lumbosacral strain with myositis of the lumbar area, narrowing of the disc space, and degenerative disc disease.

The Board has granted service connection for degenerative arthritis of the low back and scarring of the left lung as a result of pneumonia in service.

The Board found that lumbosacral strain does not currently exist and denied the veteran's claim for service connection.

The veteran's claims for increased ratings for lumbosacral strain with degenerative disc disease of the lumbosacral spine and neurological manifestations to his right lower extremity were denied. The RO continued the evaluations at 10 percent prior to December 16, 1998, and at 20 percent thereafter.

The Board has determined that the veteran's lumbar spine disorder does not meet or approximate the criteria for a rating in excess of 20 percent under any applicable diagnostic code.

The Board has determined that the veteran does not have current right shoulder, bilateral arm, neck or back disabilities due to events experienced during his period of active service. The VA examiners did not find a connection between these conditions and service.

The Board has determined that the veteran's low back disorder and right hip disorder are not service-connected, as there is no evidence linking these conditions to his military service.

The Board granted an increased rating to 40 percent for the veteran's post-traumatic osteoarthritis of the lumbar spine, effective from the date of the appealed June 2001 rating decision.

The Board has granted service connection for the veteran's low back disorder, corns and calluses of the feet, and cyst and perineal abscess. The veteran is also awarded an initial compensable evaluation (10%) for her acne.

The veteran's claims for service connection for bronchitis and an increased evaluation for degenerative joint disease and degenerative disc disease of the back at T11-T12 were granted. The RO is instructed to obtain updated medical records from the veteran's private family doctor.

The Board has remanded the case due to incomplete records from 1979 to 1998. The veteran's claim for service connection is pending and will be returned to the Board after compliance with the required development.

The Board has granted a 20 percent evaluation for the veteran's chronic T12 and L1 vertebral compression fracture residuals, which were previously rated as 10 percent.