Back / lumbar spine decisions — 2006

The Board has granted the veteran's motion to reopen his claim for service connection of a back disorder, finding new and material evidence. The case is now remanded for further development.

The Board has determined that the veteran did not submit new and material evidence to reopen his claim of entitlement to service connection for a back disability, which was initially claimed as scoliosis of the back. The case is being remanded for further development.

The Board denied the veteran's claim for an effective date prior to May 24, 2000 for the grant of service connection for chronic lumbosacral strain with degenerative joint disease due to lack of a valid claim before that date.

The VA denied the veteran's claim for an increased rating for his service-connected low back disability, finding that the evidence did not show any incapacitating episodes or other factors warranting a higher rating.

The veteran's claims for increased rating and service connection were denied. The lumbar laminectomy for herniated disc L4-L5 is currently rated as 10 percent disabling, with no evidence of incapacitating episodes or peripheral nerve involvement. There is no current bilateral hip disorder or bilateral foot disorder that can be linked to the service-connected lumbar condition.

The Board found no evidence of a pre-existing back disorder and concluded that the veteran's current diagnoses of chronic lumbodorsal strain and degenerative disc disease are not related to his service.

The Board has determined that new and material evidence has been received to reopen the veteran's claims for service connection for left knee sprain and right lumbar strain. However, the claim for right lumbar strain remains denied as there is no medical opinion linking the current condition to active service.

The Board has determined that the veteran's chronic lumbosacral strain/sprain is service connected, but his hypertension was not incurred in or aggravated by active duty.

The Board granted increased ratings for postoperative residuals of a laminectomy and diskectomies from the third lumbar vertebra (L3) to the first sacral segment (S1), currently evaluated as 10 percent disabling, and deep venous thrombosis (DVT) of the left lower extremity, currently evaluated as 10 percent disabling. The effective date is November 29, 2006.

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

The Board found that the veteran does not currently have a diagnosed back disability and therefore denied his claim for service connection.

The Board has denied the veteran's claims for service connection for a back condition, asbestosis, and emphysema. The evidence does not support a finding that these conditions were incurred or aggravated by military service.

The Board has granted service connection for osteoarthritis of the lumbosacral spine, finding that it is at least as likely as not related to service. Service connection for a low back disability other than osteoarthritis was denied.

The veteran's appeal is being remanded to obtain additional medical records and conduct further examinations to determine the nature and etiology of his service-connected right knee disorder, as well as any left knee and low back disabilities.

The Board found that the veteran's low back disorder did not originate in service and is not otherwise causally related to his military service. The evidence indicated that his current level of disability was a result of an accident during civilian life, specifically in 1988.

The Board has granted service connection for an undiagnosed illness manifested by low back pain and assigned a 50 percent rating for depressive disorder. The effective date of the decision remains to be determined as it pertains to the initial rating period.

The Board has reopened the veteran's claim of service connection for a low back disorder and finds that new and material evidence has been submitted. The claim is now considered on its merits.

The Board has remanded the case for further development due to incomplete medical records and insufficient opinions regarding the etiology of the veteran's cervical, lumbar spine, and skin disorders.

The veteran's claim for a higher rating for his service-connected lumbosacral strain with degenerative disc disease is being remanded due to the need for additional examinations and development of medical records.

The Board has granted service connection for a left knee condition and a lower back condition as secondary to the veteran's right knee condition. The claim for an increased rating for internal derangement of the right knee is denied.