Back / lumbar spine decisions — 2006

The veteran's claim for payment or reimbursement of emergency medical treatment in a non-VA facility on January 7, 2002 is denied as he had not received VA medical care within two years preceding the emergency medical care.

The Board finds that the veteran's low back degenerative joint disease is due to an injury sustained in service, and his bilateral knee disorder does not have a direct link to service.

The veteran's claim for an increased rating for his lumbosacral strain with degenerative joint and disc disease is being remanded due to the need for additional VCAA-compliant notice and development.

The Board found no current disabilities for the low back, right knee, and left knee conditions. The veteran's service medical records did not show any chronic or significant injuries that would support a finding of service connection.

The Board has remanded the case for further development due to a hearing issue, and no new rating or effective date is provided.

The Board has determined that the veteran's claimed head injury with residual of occipital pain and thoracolumbar arthritis are not service-connected. The Board found no evidence linking these conditions to active duty or a service-connected condition.

The Board has determined that the veteran's current lumbar spine disability, diagnosed as intervertebral lumbar disc disease/degenerative arthritis, is related to his period of active service and grants service connection for this condition.

The Board has found the veteran's entitlement to service connection for flat feet. The low back disability issue is addressed in a separate remand.

The Board has remanded the case for further action, including scheduling a videoconference hearing.

The Board has determined that the veteran is entitled to a 20 percent disability rating for traumatic arthritis with degenerative disc disease of the lumbosacral spine, effective September 26, 2003.

The veteran's claim for an initial rating higher than 10 percent for residuals of fusion, L5-S1, with degenerative joint disease of the lumbar spine is being remanded due to a material change in his disability.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for a fungal infection of the upper torso, and denied his requests for increased ratings and earlier effective dates for his service-connected disabilities.

The Board has determined that the veteran's service-connected degenerative disc disease of lumbosacral spine with spondylolisthesis L3-L4 and scoliosis of lumbar spine does not warrant a higher disability rating as it does not meet the criteria for an increased evaluation under the applicable diagnostic codes.

The Board denied the veteran's claim for service connection for lumbar sprain, to include degenerative changes of the lumbosacral spine, finding that there was no medical evidence establishing a nexus between his current disability and his in-service injuries.

The Board has determined that the evidence does not support a finding of service connection for either post-operative residuals of hernias or a low back disorder.

The veteran's service-connected psychiatric disability was rated at 30 percent prior to April 23, 1999 and denied a higher rating. The condition is currently rated as 50 percent disabling.,The veteran's degenerative disc disease of the lumbar spine has been rated at 40 percent since its initial grant in June 1995.

The Board has denied the veteran's claims for service connection for a left knee disorder and low back disorder, finding no evidence of in-service injury or aggravation. The claim for an increased rating for psoriasis is also denied.

The VA denied the veteran's claims for service connection for degenerative disc disease of the lumbosacral spine and arthritis of the right hip, finding that these conditions were not related to her service-connected bilateral pes planus or any other service event.

The Board found that the veteran's lumbar spine, left ankle, and right ankle disabilities do not warrant higher initial ratings under the applicable rating criteria.