Back / lumbar spine decisions — 2006

The Board of Veterans' Appeals has determined that the veteran does not have a chronic back disorder that began in service and therefore denied his claim for service connection.

The veteran requested to withdraw his appeal, and the Board has dismissed it.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development due to the need for a VA examination and compliance with notification requirements.

The Board has determined that the veteran's service-connected disabilities, combined at a 70% rating, render him unable to secure and follow a substantially gainful occupation.

The Board found no medical evidence linking the veteran's back and neck conditions to service, resulting in a denial of his claims.

The Board has remanded the case for further development, including a supplemental opinion from the April 2006 VA examiner and formal adjudication of service connection issues. The veteran's claim will be readjudicated after these actions.

The Board found no evidence to support the veteran's claims of service connection for back and left knee disabilities, as there was no competent medical evidence linking these conditions to his period of active duty.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for increased ratings and service connection, finding that the evidence did not support a higher rating or service connection based on residuals of a low back injury or respiratory disability due to asbestos exposure.

The veteran's claim of an increased disability rating for her service-connected lumbar strain with L3-4 spondylosis, disc bulging and degeneration is being remanded due to the need to consider prior rating criteria and provide proper notice.

The Board has denied an increased rating for the veteran's service-connected compression fracture of T6 and granted a separate 10 percent evaluation for demonstrable deformity of T6. The issues of service connection for PTSD and lumbar spine disability are remanded.

The Board has granted an initial evaluation of 20 percent for lumbosacral strain, finding that the veteran's condition meets the criteria for a 20 percent rating based on moderate limitation of motion.

The Board has determined that there is no competent medical evidence showing a current right shoulder disorder or low back disorder related to service. Therefore, the claims for service connection are denied.

The Board found that the veteran's lumbosacral strain, as evidenced by forward flexion to 85 degrees, extension to 25 degrees, and bilateral lateral flexion to 25 degrees without discomfort or pain, does not warrant a higher rating under either the old or new criteria for evaluating disabilities of the spine.

The Board found that the veteran's low back disorder did not originate in service and is not otherwise causally related to his military service, including to the service-connected residuals of a shell fragment wound to his left buttock.

The Board has denied the veteran's claims for service connection for left knee and low back conditions. The claim for hepatitis B was also addressed, but not related to the main issues.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for arthritis of the lumbar spine, cervical spine, shoulders, and knees as secondary to his service-connected bilateral pes planus.

The Board denied service connection for a low back disability and did not grant TDIU as the veteran's current condition is not related to his military service.

The Board has determined that the veteran does not have any of the claimed conditions and therefore, service connection for these conditions is denied.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for increased ratings and service connection, finding that he did not meet the criteria for higher disability ratings or service connection based on his military service.

The Board found no evidence to support the veteran's claims for service connection of a low back disability and right ankle disability, both claimed as secondary to her service-connected right hip disability. The examiner concluded that these disabilities are not related to her service-connected condition.