Back / lumbar spine decisions — 2006

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including an addendum opinion from a VA examiner to address whether any lower extremity radiculopathy is related to active service or the service-connected chronic lumbosacral strain.

The Board found that the veteran's bilateral pes planus did not increase in severity during service and denied his claim for service connection. The knee disability was also denied as secondary to pes planus, and the low back disorder was denied as not incurred or aggravated by service.

The Board denied an increased evaluation for the veteran's service-connected low back degenerative disc disease with arthritic changes, finding that the schedular criteria did not meet the requirements under any applicable rating codes.

The Board denied service connection for sinusitis, eye disability, impotence, cramps of the lower and upper body, and hearing loss. The claim for athlete's foot was reopened but not granted.

The appeal is remanded to the RO for compliance with the Veterans Claims Assistance Act of 2000 (VCAA) and to schedule a VA examination.

The veteran's claims for increased ratings for his lumbar spine and right little finger disabilities are being remanded for further development, including a new VA examination.

The veteran's current low back disability is related to his in-service combat-related injuries.

The Board remands the case for a VA examination to determine the etiology of any diagnosed back disorder.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for a bilateral knee disability, low back disability, and heart disorder (secondary to PTSD), as well as an increased rating for his post-traumatic stress disorder.

The Board denied service connection for degenerative changes of the lumbar spine, status post hemilaminectomy and medial facetectomy of L5-S1, as there was no evidence that the condition was incurred in or aggravated by active military service.

The Board denied the veteran's claim for service connection for a low back disability, to include arthritis, as there was no medical evidence or opinion establishing a nexus between such disability and his military service.

The veteran's chronic lumbar pain with instability and degenerative joint disease is currently manifested by moderate limitation of motion and disability, without neurological involvement. The criteria for an evaluation in excess of 20 percent have not been met.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection and increased evaluations for various conditions, including right ear hearing loss, heart palpitations with left-sided chest pain, lumbosacral strain, sinusitis, left ear hearing loss, left fifth finger, tendonitis of the right knee, and migraine headaches.

The Board has determined that the veteran does not have current disabilities of the left knee, left ankle, or low back. As such, service connection for these conditions is denied.

The Board found that new and material evidence had been submitted to reopen the claims for service connection for residuals of an injury to the right hand, and for residuals of the removal of a ganglion cyst from the left hand. However, no new and material evidence was found regarding the claim for a psychiatric disorder.

The veteran's appeal for an initial compensable evaluation for lumbosacral strain is being remanded to schedule a Travel Board hearing.

The Board denied service connection for a psychiatric disability, degenerative changes of the lumbosacral spine, an undiagnosed illness characterized by headaches, sleepiness, poor memory and concentration, and sexual dysfunction, and an undiagnosed illness characterized by low back pain with numbness and weakness of the legs.

The veteran's lumbosacral strain superimposed on congenital anomalies was denied an evaluation in excess of 20 percent, as the evidence did not support a finding of moderate limitation of motion beyond what is already compensated.

The Board denied service connection for a chronic bowel disorder, swollen glands in the neck region, and a chronic back disorder as these conditions were not shown to be related to the veteran's active military service or exposure to Agent Orange.

The Board found that service connection is not warranted for a back disability or a right shoulder disorder as there was no evidence of any link between the conditions and service.