Back / lumbar spine decisions — 2006

The Board has granted a 20 percent evaluation for degenerative joint disease of the lumbosacral spine, and denied increased evaluations for degenerative joint disease of the right knee and left knee.

The Board has decided to remand the case for further development and consideration, including obtaining additional medical records and arranging for a VA examination.

The Board has determined that the veteran's lumbosacral spine degenerative disc disease does not meet or approximate the criteria for a schedular disability rating higher than 60 percent.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for a cervical spine disability, an increased rating for low back strain, and reopening of his claim for headaches. The Board found no evidence linking these conditions to service or a service-connected condition.

The veteran's low back disability has been rated at 20 percent prior to November 28, 2005 and at 40 percent on and after that date. The Board found the evidence did not support a higher rating for any period.

The Board denied the veteran's claims of service connection for bipolar disorder, hepatitis C, left knee disorder, chronic low back disorder, and headaches. The decision found that there was no evidence linking these conditions to service.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for increased ratings for his lumbar spine spondylolisthesis, left knee osteoarthritis, and psychological musculoskeletal disorder with headaches and depression. The RO previously awarded a 50 percent rating for the psychological condition.

The Board denied a higher initial rating for the veteran's service-connected low back disability, finding that the evidence did not meet the criteria for an increased rating under the applicable VA rating schedule.

The VA determined that the appellant's lumbosacral strain, L4-L5 discogenic disease, bulging disc and degenerative joint disease of the lumbar spine warrants a rating of 40 percent, effective May 11, 1993.

The Board found that the veteran's degenerative disc disease of the lumbosacral spine with postoperative residuals of a herniated disc at L5-S1 was not incurred in or aggravated by his military service, and thus denied service connection for this condition. The Board also found that the low back strain was not related to his military service.

The Board has granted service connection for residuals of a partial medial meniscectomy right knee, degenerative disc disease cervical spine, and a headache disorder. The veteran's current conditions are related to his military service.

The Board has granted service connection for lumbosacral strain with L1 wedging and bilateral heel contusions, but denied service connection for stress fracture of the dorsum of the right foot. The veteran's bilateral heel contusions are currently rated as noncompensably disabling.

The Board has remanded the case to obtain additional medical evidence and a new opinion regarding service connection for degenerative joint disease and degenerative disc disease of the low back.

The Board found no nexus between the veteran's inservice back injury and his current low back disability, concluding that it was more likely than not secondary to obesity and deconditioning.

The Board has remanded the veteran's claim for service connection for a low back disorder due to additional development and readjudication.

The Board has determined that the veteran's service-connected lumbar and cervical spine disabilities do not warrant an increased disability rating based on the clinical evidence of record.

The Board found that the veteran's current diagnosed back disability is not related to his period of service and denied the claim for service connection.

The Board denied an increased rating for lumbosacral strain and a higher evaluation for schizophrenia.

The veteran's current low back disorder, including pain and severe limitation of motion, has not been medically linked to his service-connected lumbosacral strain. The Board finds that the disability does not warrant a higher rating than the currently assigned 20 percent evaluation.

The case is being remanded to the RO for additional development, including verification of military service and VA medical examinations.