Back / lumbar spine decisions — 2006

The veteran's appeal is about his initial grant of service connection for low back disability and seeks a higher rating. Additional medical evidence has been submitted, including opinions from Dr. Siek and Dr. Christ.

The Board denied service connection for PTSD and evaluated the veteran's lumbar kyphoscoliosis, paravertebral fibromyositis, and bilateral hearing loss disability.,PTSD was not found to be incurred in or aggravated by active military service.

The veteran's appeal has been dismissed due to his death.

The Board found that the veteran's intervertebral disc syndrome of the lumbar spine did not meet or approximate the criteria for a schedular evaluation in excess of 40 percent.

The Board has remanded the case to the RO for further development, including scheduling a Travel Board Hearing.

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

The Board found that the veteran's death from a cerebral infarction due to vascular thrombosis was not caused by or related to his service-connected disabilities, including his right leg circulatory deficiency.

The Board has determined that the evidence received since the September 1996 RO decision is not new and material, thus denying the veteran's application to reopen his claim for service connection for a low back disability.

The veteran's chronic lumbosacral strain was initially rated at 10 percent prior to July 15, 2004 and increased to 20 percent effective July 15, 2004.

The Board found that the veteran's low back disability did not have its onset during service or result from disease or injury in service. The Board also found that the current low back disability is not caused or aggravated by his service-connected left ankle injury.

The Board denied the veteran's claim for an evaluation in excess of 40 percent for recurrent myositis of the lumbar paravertebral musculature with degenerative disc disease (DDD), finding that the evidence did not meet the criteria for a higher rating.

The veteran's service-connected low back disability was granted a 20 percent evaluation effective February 5, 2004. The bilateral flatfoot condition received a noncompensable rating prior to February 5, 2004 and a 20 percent rating effective that date.

The Board denied service connection for hypertension and secondary service connection for a back disorder with arthritis due to a service-connected left knee disorder. The veteran's current conditions are not service connected.

The Board has determined that the veteran's service-connected lumbosacral strain with L4 arthritis and L4-S1 disc disease warrants a rating of 40 percent from October 1988, but not in excess of this.

The Board has remanded the case due to incomplete medical records and requests for additional information.

The Board found no objective indications of a chronic undiagnosed illness manifested by muscle and joint pain. The veteran's complaints were attributed to known clinical diagnoses, such as low back strain, cervical strain, patellofemoral joint disturbance, and shoulder tendonitis.

The Board has determined that the veteran's low back disability is not related to his military service and therefore denied his claim for service connection.

The Board has determined that additional development is needed before the case can be decided. Specifically, the veteran needs to provide evidence in his possession related to his lower back disorder and a medical examination should be conducted to determine if his current condition is related to military service.

The Board denied service connection for a back disorder and residuals of right nephrectomy, finding no evidence linking these conditions to active military service.

The Board has determined that the veteran's service-connected lumbosacral strain warrants a 40 percent evaluation, effective from September 26, 2003.