Back / lumbar spine decisions — 2006

The veteran's lumbar spine disability is currently rated as 10 percent disabling, and the RO has not granted a higher rating.,The veteran's right hand disability is currently rated as noncompensable (0 percent), and the RO has not granted a compensable rating.

The veteran's low back disability, characterized by degenerative disc disease and mechanical low back pain, does not meet the criteria for a rating in excess of 20 percent.

The case is being remanded to the RO for scheduling a Travel Board hearing at the earliest available opportunity.

The Board has denied the veteran's claims for service connection for a right shoulder disorder and hypertension, but granted service connection for a seizure/syncopal disorder. The initial rating for the right knee disorder remains denied.

The Board denied service connection for residuals of a right ankle injury, degenerative joint disease of the cervical spine, and degenerative joint disease of the lumbar spine. The preponderance of evidence is against these claims.

The Board has determined that the veteran's back disability was not incurred in or due to service, and thus denied his claim for service connection.

The Board has determined that the veteran does not have a bilateral wrist disorder, right ankle disorder, or low back disorder that is related to his service. The diabetes mellitus claim was denied as it is unclear if it is secondary to hypertension.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for increased disability ratings for his service-connected lumbar strain and sciatic neuropathy, finding that the evidence did not meet the criteria for a higher rating.

The veteran's claims for service connection are being remanded due to the need for a VA examination and proper VCAA notification.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development due to insufficient medical evidence to decide the claims.

The veteran's service-connected right and left knee chondromalacia, as well as his lumbar spine disability, are each rated at 10 percent. The Board finds that the evidence does not support a higher evaluation for any of these conditions.

The Board found that the reduction of the veteran's evaluation for degenerative disc disease of the lumbosacral spine from 40 percent to 10 percent was proper. The criteria for a disability rating in excess of 10 percent for degenerative disc disease of the lumbosacral spine have not been met.

The Board has determined that new and material evidence was received to reopen the veteran's claim of entitlement to service connection for a low back disability, claimed as secondary to a service-connected left knee disability. The Board found that the veteran's current low back disability is proximately due to or the result of his service-connected left knee disability.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for a personality deficit with nervous breakdown and low back condition with degenerative joint/disc disease, finding that there was no evidence of such conditions in service or any link to service.

The veteran's appeal is remanded due to incomplete notification and the need for additional medical examinations under both old and new rating criteria.

The veteran seeks service connection for tinnitus and various disabilities including a low back disability, neck disability, left knee disability, and bilateral hearing loss. The RO is directed to obtain relevant medical records and arrange for the veteran to undergo examination by an orthopedic specialist.,The veteran seeks service connection for his low back disability, which he claims is secondary to his service-connected right knee disability. The RO is directed to obtain relevant medical records and arrange for the veteran to undergo examination by an orthopedic specialist.,The veteran seeks service connection for his neck disability, which he claims is secondary to his service-connected right knee disability. The RO is directed to obtain relevant medical records and arrange for the veteran to undergo examination by an orthopedic specialist.

The VA denied a rating in excess of 20 percent for low back arthritis, finding that the veteran's condition is manifested by objective evidence of no more than moderate overall limitation of motion with complaints of pain. The RO considered all relevant evidence and determined that the current 20 percent rating adequately reflects the severity of the veteran's disability.

The Board has denied the veteran's claim for a disability rating in excess of 10 percent for residuals of minor compression fracture of the spine (T-12) and service connection for depression as secondary to this condition. The issue of nonservice-connected pension benefits is referred back to the RO.

The veteran's appeal is being remanded due to incomplete service medical records and the need for proper VCAA notice.

The Board has determined that the veteran does not have a low back disability attributable to his active military service and arthritis of the lumbosacral spine may not be presumed to have been incurred in service. As such, the claim for service connection is denied.