Back / lumbar spine decisions — 2006

The Board has determined that the veteran does not have current disabilities involving his right eye, right ear, or low back and there is no competent medical evidence linking any current disorders to service. As a result, the claims for service connection are denied.

The Board has granted service connection for right shoulder impingement syndrome and back condition, but denied the remaining issues.

The veteran's lumbar spine disability is rated at 10 percent prior to August 23, 2005 and at 20 percent from August 23, 2005 forward. The claim for a higher rating is granted effective August 23, 2005.

The veteran's service-connected degenerative disease of the lumbar spine is currently rated at 20 percent since February 11, 1999. Prior to that date, a rating of 10 percent was granted.

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

The veteran's low back strain with degenerative changes was rated at 10 percent from September 26, 2003 to March 16, 2005.,After March 17, 2005 (with the exception of May 18, 2005 to July 1, 2005), the veteran's low back strain with degenerative changes was rated at 20 percent.

The Board has determined that the veteran's degenerative disc disease of the neck and back is not related to his military service, and therefore denied his claim for service connection.

The veteran's claims for service connection were granted, with a 20 percent rating assigned for left shoulder pain and crepitation due to undiagnosed illness effective March 13, 2006. The other issues remain in controversy.

The appellant requested to withdraw their appeal, and as a result, the case has been dismissed.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for residuals of a left knee injury with healed lacerations, hip disorder, and back disorder. The Board found that the preexisting conditions were not aggravated by service.

The Board has reopened the appellant's claim for service connection for low back strain and remanded the case to schedule a VA examination to determine the etiology of any current back disability.

The Board found that the veteran's back disorder did not manifest during service or within a reasonable time after service, and there is no evidence linking his current condition to military service. The VA examiner opined that the veteran's current thoracolumbar spine conditions were less likely caused by his military service.

The Board granted service connection for tinnitus and an increased rating for low back disability, finding that the veteran's symptoms were related to his military service.

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

The Board has determined that the veteran's claimed low back and cervical spine disabilities, as well as his acquired psychiatric disorder and heart disorder, were not incurred in or aggravated by service. The evidence does not support a finding of direct service connection for these conditions.

The veteran's claims for increased ratings and service connection have been denied. The RO granted a 10 percent evaluation for cluster headaches and degenerative joint disease of the lumbar spine, but did not grant any additional evaluations or establish service connection for other conditions.

The Board granted a rating of 20 percent for the veteran's low back disorder and bilateral pes planus, effective from January 12, 2006.

The Board has determined that there is no competent evidence linking the veteran's current hypertension or back condition to his military service, including periods of active duty and National Guard service. Therefore, the claims for service connection are denied.

The Board has determined that the veteran's claimed hand and back conditions are not related to his service-connected rheumatic fever, and thus denied these claims.

The Board has determined that the veteran's claims for increased evaluations of his left knee, lumbar spine, and cervical spine disabilities are not supported by the evidence provided. The current disability ratings adequately reflect the severity of these conditions.