Back / lumbar spine decisions — 2006

The Board denied service connection for a cervical spine disorder and denied an increased rating for lumbar spine disability. The veteran's current low back disability is manifested by mild to severe limitation of motion, with subjective complaints of chronic pain (increased with use and during flare-ups), and weakened movement and excess fatigability.

The Board has granted a 40 percent disability rating for the veteran's sciatica of the left lower extremity, effective September 23, 2002. The veteran's low back disability claim includes complaints and contentions with respect to both orthopedic and neurologic symptomatology.

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

The veteran's claims for effective dates prior to December 18, 2001 for service connection for allergic rhinitis and pseudofolliculitis barbae are denied. The Board has also remanded the remaining issues of entitlement to service connection.

The veteran's appeal for service connection for degenerative disc disease of the lumbar spine has been dismissed due to his death.

The Board has determined that the veteran's left hip and lumbar spine conditions are not service-connected, and his depression is not secondary to a service-connected condition.

The Board has determined that further development is needed before the claims can be decided.

The Board has determined that the veteran's claim for service connection for meralgia paresthetica of the left thigh is reopened and granted. His degenerative joint disease of the thoracolumbar spine remains at a 10 percent rating.

The VA denied an increased rating for the veteran's degenerative osteoarthritis of the lumbosacral spine, as his disability did not meet the criteria for a higher rating.

The Board finds that the preponderance of the evidence is against a rating in excess of 20 percent for the veteran's left knee disability.,The Board also finds that the preponderance of the evidence is against a rating in excess of 20 percent for the veteran's thoracic spine disability.,Service connection for the degree of aggravation of lumbar spine disability, proximately due to or the result of the service-connected left knee disability, is granted.

The veteran's low back disability was increased from a noncompensable rating to a 10 percent rating, effective May 1996. The Board found that the evidence supported this increase based on his symptoms and functional limitations.

The veteran has withdrawn their appeal, and the case is dismissed.

The Board has granted a 10 percent rating for lumbosacral strain, including early discogenic changes at L3-4 and L4-5. A separate compensable rating of 10 percent is also granted for pain in the left leg, radiculopathy of the left lower extremity from September 23, 2002.

The Board found no evidence of inservice injury or disease that would support service connection for the veteran's bilateral knee disorder and low back disorder. The claims were denied.

The Board has granted service connection for a back condition but denied service connection for allergies.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for initial evaluations in excess of 10 percent for lumbosacral strain and acne vulgaris, finding that her symptoms did not warrant a higher evaluation based on the criteria at the time.

The Board denied the veteran's claims of service connection for cervical and lumbar spine disorders, finding that there was no evidence to support a link between his current conditions and his military service.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for higher ratings for cervical strain, lumbosacral strain, and COPD. The RO assigned noncompensable disability ratings initially in April 1998 and increased them to 10 percent effective August 23, 1997.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for a higher disability rating for his lumbar spine condition and service connection for bilateral knee pain and muscle spasms of the lower extremities. The evidence did not support granting any of these claims.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for increased evaluations of his service-connected disabilities, finding that the evidence did not meet the criteria for higher ratings under the applicable rating schedules.