Back / lumbar spine decisions — 2006

The Board has remanded the case due to new evidence submitted by the veteran, and the RO is instructed to readjudicate the claims of service connection for cervical spine and lumbar spine disorders.

The Board found that the veteran's service-connected lumbosacral strain is primarily manifested by back pain and limitation of motion, with no evidence of ankylosis. The claim for increased ratings for right and left knee disabilities was not addressed in this decision.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development due to failure to comply with duty-to-assist requirements.

The Board denied the veteran's claim for a rating in excess of 20 percent for his service-connected low back disability, finding that the criteria for such an increase were not met.

The Board denied the veteran's claim for service connection of a low back disorder, concluding that no current back disability can be attributed to his military service.

The Board has determined that the veteran does not have current spondylosis with chronic lumbar pain or residuals of spinal meningitis that are related to service. The evidence does not support a finding that these conditions were incurred in or aggravated by military service.

The Board finds that the veteran is entitled to a grant of service connection for his low back disability due to conflicting medical evidence being in equipoise.

The case is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining Social Security Administration records and medical records from private providers. The veteran must also be scheduled for a VA examination to assess the severity of her service-connected low back disability.

The veteran's claim for an increased evaluation for his degenerative disc disease of the lumbar spine was denied as it did not meet the criteria for a higher rating.

The veteran's claims for service connection for degenerative disc disease of the lumbar spine and a skin disorder, including as due to exposure to Agent Orange are being remanded for additional development.

The VA determined that the veteran's multi-level degenerative disk disease and degenerative joint disease with collapse of the lumbar disk space were not incurred in or aggravated by his active service.

The Board found that new and material evidence had not been submitted to reopen the veteran's claim for service connection of a low back disorder, resulting in a denial.

The Board denied the veteran's claim for an increased disability rating for his service-connected upper lumbar spine injury with instability and degenerative changes, maintaining a 20 percent evaluation.

The Board has determined that the veteran's service-connected low back strain warrants a 40 percent disability rating, effective as of the date of the June 2005 rating decision. The veteran was previously rated at 20 percent.

The Board denied service connection for a back disorder, but granted increased disability ratings for PTSD and TDIU effective May 13, 1994.

The Board has determined that the veteran's current back disability is caused or aggravated by his service-connected osteochondritis dissecans of the left knee, and thus grants service connection for this condition.

The Board has determined that the veteran's back disorder was incurred during his active duty service and is therefore granted service connection.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for multiple joint arthralgias, bilateral hip disability, bilateral knee disability, low back disability, chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS), allergic rhinitis, and urinary tract infection (UTI) due to a lack of evidence linking these conditions to his military service.

The Board has remanded the veteran's claims for additional development, including obtaining medical records and determining whether new evidence supports reopening his claim of service connection for a chronic acquired psychiatric disorder.

The Board has determined that the veteran's degenerative disc disease, L4-L5 and L5-S1 levels does not meet or approximate criteria for a rating higher than 40 percent.