Back / lumbar spine decisions — 2006

The veteran's service connection for residuals of a right wrist strain is granted. The RO has assigned a 30 percent disability evaluation for his degenerative disc disease/degenerative arthritis of the cervical spine, which was previously rated at 20 percent. His status post malunion of fractured mandible; bilateral comminuted open fractures of the mandible left body and right angle remains noncompensable as there is no evidence of a compensable disability. The veteran's nerve paresthesia of the left side of the face has also been rated at 0 percent.

The VA denied the veteran's request for an increased rating for her cervical spine disability, maintaining a current evaluation of 20 percent since May 1, 2003.

The Board has granted service connection for benign prostatic hypertrophy, tinnitus, bilateral Eustachian tube dysfunction, and sinusitis. Service connection was also established for degenerative joint disease of the lumbar spine. The veteran's lumbar spine condition is not presumed due to exposure to Agent Orange or other environmental factors.

The Board denied service connection for a neck disability, including as secondary to service-connected chronic low back strain. The appeal regarding an earlier effective date for the grant of service connection for chronic low back strain was also denied due to lack of timely notice of disagreement.

The veteran's appeal has been withdrawn due to his agreement with the assigned ratings and his application for VA vocational rehabilitation benefits.

The Board has determined that new and material evidence has been received to reopen the previously denied claim seeking service connection for a low back disability.

The veteran withdrew his appeal, thus the case is dismissed without prejudice.

The Board has remanded the case due to incomplete records and requests for additional information from the veteran.

The veteran's claim for an increased evaluation of his lumbar spine injury is being remanded due to the submission of additional medical evidence and the need for further examination.

The veteran's dry eye syndrome is granted as secondary to his service-connected ulcerative colitis. His cervical and thoracolumbar spine disabilities are each rated at 20 percent, with no higher rating warranted for either condition.

The Board has determined that the veteran's current back disability is related to an injury sustained during active service, and thus grants service connection for this condition.

The veteran's low back disability, characterized by pain and mild neurological deficits, has been rated at 20 percent since October 2002. The current rating is based on moderate limitation of motion without severe impairment.

The VA denied the veteran's claim for a higher disability rating for his lumbosacral strain with post-traumatic lumbar spine arthritis, as the medical evidence did not support a higher evaluation based on intervertebral disc syndrome or other neurological findings.

The Board denied an increased rating for the veteran's degenerative disc disease of the lumbar spine, with mild spinal stenosis (previously evaluated as thoracolumbar scoliosis), finding that a rating in excess of 40 percent is not warranted.

The Board has determined that the veteran's low back disorder did not begin during service and is not related to his service-connected left knee disability. Therefore, service connection for a low back disorder is denied.

The Board has determined that the veteran's fibromyositis, paravertebral lumbosacral muscles warrants a 20 percent disability rating.

The Board denied the veteran's claim for an increased disability rating for his service-connected lumbosacral strain with degenerative disc disease, finding that the current evaluation of 40 percent adequately reflects the severity of his symptoms.

The Board has determined that the veteran does not have a stomach or low back disability that is related to service. Therefore, his claims for service connection are denied.

The veteran's lumbar paravertebral myositis is rated at 20 percent prior to November 18, 2005, and at 40 percent thereafter. The veteran's psoriatic arthritis of the right knee and neuritis of the sciatic nerve are both rated at 10 percent.

The Board denied the appellant's claims for service connection for various conditions, including diabetes mellitus type II and tinnitus. The appeals were not about service connection at all.