Back / lumbar spine decisions — 2006

The veteran's initial claim for a higher rating for his low back disability was granted, but the effective date is not specified as it falls within the period of time covered by the original claim.

The Board has determined that the veteran's claimed psychiatric, low back, and right knee disabilities are not related to his active duty service. The veteran did not engage in combat with the enemy, and there is no verified stressor for PTSD. His current diagnoses of dysthymic disorder, polysubstance dependence, and history of pedophilia were not related to his service. There is also no evidence linking his current low back or knee disabilities to his active duty service.

The Board found no evidence of a link between the veteran's right knee injury in service and his current conditions, leading to denial of all claims.

The Board found no evidence that the veteran's current spine conditions were related to his service, and thus denied his claim for service connection.

The Board denied the veteran's claim for a disability rating in excess of 10 percent for his service-connected lumbosacral strain, finding that there was no evidence of ankylosis or other significant impairment warranting a higher rating.

The Board has determined that the appellant does not have a right knee, low back, or psychiatric disability related to military service and therefore denied all claims for service connection.

The veteran has withdrawn his appeals for a higher rating on the lumbosacral spine disability and service connection for a cervical spine disability, to include on a secondary basis. As such, these issues are dismissed.

The Board has denied the veteran's claims for service connection for residuals of a low back injury and post-traumatic stress disorder, finding that there is no evidence of chronic conditions during or after service and insufficient medical evidence to support a diagnosis of post-traumatic stress disorder.

The Board denied a rating higher than 60 percent for the veteran's service-connected lumbosacral strain, finding that the evidence did not show unfavorable ankylosis of the spine or residuals of vertebral fracture.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development due to incomplete medical records and need for further examination.

The Board denied the appellant's claims for increased ratings for bilateral plantar fasciitis, degenerative joint disease of the lumbar spine, and degenerative joint diseases of the elbows and knees. The RO continued the previous ratings.

The Board found no evidence of a chronic back disorder in service and insufficient medical evidence to link the veteran's current DDD of the lumbar spine to his military service. The claim for mood disorders and panic disorders is also denied as there was not sufficient evidence provided by VA psychiatric examination.

The Board has remanded the veteran's claims due to additional development being needed, including obtaining VA records and scheduling examinations.

The VA granted a 10% evaluation for lumbar spondylitis from March 31, 2004. The veteran's other claims were not addressed.

The veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development of his medical records. The issues include TDIU, higher initial disability evaluations for radiculopathy in the left and right lower extremities due to degenerative disc disease of the lumbar spine.

The Board denied the appellant's claims for service connection for a low back disability and his claim seeking improved pension benefits based on wartime service, finding that new evidence did not raise a reasonable possibility of substantiating these claims.

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

The Board has determined that the veteran's low back, right ankle, and right knee disabilities were not incurred or aggravated during active military service.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for various conditions, including bilateral pes planus, low back disability, bilateral knee disability, brain tumor, headaches, and bilateral shoulder disability. The evidence submitted since the initial denial was not considered material to reopen the claim of service connection for bilateral pes planus.