Back / lumbar spine decisions — 2006

The Board has denied the veteran's claims to reopen his service connection for lumbosacral strain and bilateral pes planus as no new and material evidence was received.

The VA determined that the veteran's lumbar spine degenerative disc disease does not warrant a rating higher than 10 percent, as it is considered mild with no significant loss of motion or muscle spasm.

The Board has remanded the case for further development, including obtaining VA and private medical records, and for a VA examination to determine the etiology of the veteran's cervical and lumbar spine disabilities.

The Board found that the evidence did not support a finding of service connection for the veteran's lumbar spine disability, thus denying the claim.

The veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining medical records and scheduling a VA examination. The claim will be reconsidered after these actions.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection, temporary total rating based on a period of convalescence following surgery in March 2003, and a total rating based on individual unemployability. The reasons included lack of evidence showing that the veteran's service-connected lumbosacral strain caused his degenerative joint disease or that he was unable to work due to his service-connected disabilities.

The Board has determined that the veteran's low back disability is proximately due to or the result of his service-connected left knee disability. However, bilateral hip and ankle disabilities are not shown to be related to his service-connected left knee disability.

The Board found no evidence to support the veteran's claims of service connection for low back, left foot, right foot, and left knee disabilities. The veteran's current conditions are not linked to his military service or a service-connected disability.

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

The Board found no evidence to support the veteran's claims of service connection for chronic lumbosacral strain and left knee disability, both claimed as secondary to his service-connected right knee injury. The claim for an increased rating for residuals of right knee injury was also denied.

The Board has remanded the case for further development, including a VA examination to determine the nature and etiology of any current low back disability and left knee disorder. The veteran's service medical records show complaints of back pain in November 1958 and an incident where he fell on his back during icy conditions in Germany. He also has a history of left knee injury at work in March 1994.

The veteran's service-connected disabilities do not preclude him from engaging in all types of substantially gainful employment consistent with his education and occupational background.

The Board has remanded the case due to inadequate VCAA notification and the need for additional evidence from SSA.

The Board has determined that the veteran's lumbar disc disease was not incurred in or aggravated by active military duty, nor may arthritis be presumed to have been so incurred. The Board also found no connection between the service-connected disability and the current lumbar disc disease.

The Board determined that the veteran's back and left ankle disabilities were not incurred in or aggravated by service, thus denying service connection for these conditions.

The VA determined that the veteran's current back and leg pain is not related to his fall at the VAMC in October 1997, finding no additional disability caused by VA carelessness or negligence.

The Board has granted a higher evaluation of 30 percent for the veteran's left shoulder disability and a 20 percent evaluation for her low back disability, effective April 1, 1998.

The veteran's claims for higher initial ratings for his low back and left toe disabilities, as well as a TDIU claim, were denied by the Board.

The Board has granted the veteran's claim for service connection for a lower back disorder with degenerative joint disease of the left hip, finding that the evidence supports his claim and granting him the benefit of the doubt.

The Board has determined that the veteran's claims for service connection for cervical and lumbar spine disabilities were denied as there is no competent medical evidence to relate these conditions to service or a service-connected disability.