Back / lumbar spine decisions — 2006

The Board has determined that the veteran does not have current rheumatoid arthritis or a low back disorder, and these conditions are not related to his military service.

The veteran's service-connected disabilities, including right ear hearing loss and chronic lumbar strain with PTSD, preclude him from engaging in substantially gainful employment.

The Board has denied the veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral inguinal hernias, bilateral carpal tunnel syndrome (CTS), and a lumbar condition due to lack of evidence linking these conditions to his military service.

The Board has granted service connection for a lumbar spine disorder, including spondylolysis. The veteran's major depressive disorder is currently rated at 30 percent and the claim for an increased rating remains denied.

The veteran's appeal is remanded for further development, including a VA examination to assess the impact of his service-connected disabilities on his ability to secure and maintain gainful employment.

The Board has granted service connection for patellofemoral syndrome of the left knee, allergic rhinitis, cervical and lumbar muscle strain, herpes labialis (cold sores), and failure to remove molars. The right shoulder and right and left knee disabilities are denied.

The VA determined that the veteran's current lower back disability, including lumbar stenosis and sciatica, was not incurred in or aggravated by his military service.

The Board is remanding the case to the RO for further development and consideration, including providing proper VCAA notice.

The veteran's appeal has been dismissed as he withdrew his appeal prior to the Board making a decision.

The Board finds that the veteran does not have a current diagnosis of PTSD and there is no evidence linking his current diagnoses to service or any service-connected disability. Therefore, the claims for PTSD, back disorder, and heart disorder are denied.

The Board has remanded the case due to the need for additional development, including obtaining Social Security Administration records and arranging for a VA examination.

The Board denied service connection for a low back condition and residuals of cold injury of the feet due to lack of evidence establishing a nexus between current conditions and service.

The Board has denied the veteran's claims of service connection for an umbilical hernia and a low back disorder. The Board found that new evidence did not raise a reasonable possibility of substantiating these claims, and that there was no evidence showing aggravation or worsening during service.

The veteran's claim for an increased rating for his low back syndrome, currently rated at 10 percent, is being remanded to the RO for further development and consideration under both former and revised criteria.

The Board has remanded the case to the RO for additional development, including obtaining SSA records and providing VCAA notice. The issues of service connection for degenerative changes of the lumbar spine with spina bifida occulta and whether new and material evidence has been submitted to reopen a claim for bilateral pes planus are pending.

The veteran's claims for increased evaluations of his service-connected thoracic spine muscle injury, lumbar spine nerve injury, and right shoulder muscle injury were denied as the evidence did not meet the criteria for a higher evaluation under applicable rating criteria.

The Board has denied the veteran's claims for service connection and a compensable rating for various conditions, finding that the evidence does not support a grant of these benefits.

The Board found that the veteran's lumbosacral strain warrants a 20 percent evaluation, which was the initial rating assigned. The TDIU claim was also granted.

The veteran's right knee, right ankle, and lumbar spine disabilities are rated at the lowest available ratings. The lumbar spine disability is granted a 60% rating effective April 8, 2004.

The Board finds that the veteran is not entitled to an effective date earlier than April 29, 1999 for the assignment of a compensable evaluation for back strain with limitation of motion.