Back / lumbar spine decisions — 2006

The Board has denied the veteran's claims for service connection for a right ear disorder, hypertension, and back pain. The petition to reopen her claim for PTSD (claimed as due to sexual trauma) is pending.

The Board denied service connection for degenerative joint disease of the lumbosacral spine and a right ankle disability, finding that there was no evidence linking these conditions to service.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development due to incomplete records and outdated examination reports.

The Board has determined that the veteran does not have a low back disorder attributable to service and denied his claim for service connection.

The Board has determined that the veteran does not have a neck or back disability that is attributable to service, and thus denied his claim for service connection.

The Board found that the veteran does not have any eye disability related to active service and denied his claim for service connection. The issue of a back disorder is remanded.

The Board has reopened the claim for service connection due to new evidence showing a current low back disorder and an opinion linking it to service. The claim is now granted as direct service connection can be established.

The veteran's claims for service connection and increased evaluations were denied. The Board found no current diagnosis of hyper-pigmented lesions on the legs, and the lumbar spine disability was rated as severe but not pronounced intervertebral disc syndrome without incapacitating episodes. The thoracic spine fracture residuals were rated at 10 percent, and cervical spine degenerative disc disease did not meet criteria for higher evaluations.

The Board found that the veteran's thoracic spine disorder was not incurred in or aggravated by service, and denied his claims.

The Board denied service connection for cervical, thoracic and sacral spine conditions. It also denied increased ratings for the lumbar spine disability.

The veteran's claim for a compensable disability rating for residuals of a simple fracture of the right sixth rib has been denied as there is no evidence that any current disability is related to this rib fracture.

The Board has determined that the veteran's bilateral pes planus, hallux valgus, and hammer toes are service-connected. However, there is insufficient evidence to establish a low back disability during service or due to service connection.

The Board found no evidence linking the veteran's current back condition to service, including a reported injury in service. The claim for service connection was denied.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for higher evaluations for his dorsal spine and lumbar spine disabilities, finding that the assigned disability ratings adequately reflected the severity of his conditions.

The Board found that the appellant does not have a low back disability, right knee disability, or left knee disability that is attributable to military service.

The veteran's appeals for increased ratings for gastritis and a low back condition were not timely filed, resulting in the dismissal of these claims.

The Board has decided to remand the case for further development, including a new VA examination and consideration of the veteran's claim for service connection for a low back strain as secondary to his service-connected pes planus.

The case is being remanded for additional examinations and development of the claims.

The VA denied a request for an increased evaluation for the veteran's chronic lumbar syndrome, currently rated at 40 percent. The RO found that there was no evidence of severe limitation of motion or other disabling symptoms warranting a higher rating prior to October 28, 2002.

The veteran has withdrawn his appeals for both issues, and the cases are dismissed without prejudice to refiling.