Back / lumbar spine decisions — 2006

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for a cervical spine disability and for increased ratings for his lumbosacral strain and post-operative residuals of a recurrent abdominal ventral hernia. The veteran was awarded a noncompensable initial rating for the latter condition.

The Board has denied the veteran's claims for service connection for a low back disorder and an increased rating for his left knee disorder. The veteran is not entitled to service connection for these conditions, as there is no evidence linking them to his active duty service. For the left knee disorder, the Board found that the current 10% evaluation adequately compensates him for his symptoms.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for depression, an initial rating in excess of 10 percent for a back disorder, and an initial rating in excess of 30 percent for a headache disorder. The claim for a compensable rating for hypertension was also denied.

The Board has granted service connection for a low back disability and found that the veteran's current low back condition is at least as likely as not related to an injury sustained during active military service. The claim of entitlement to increased rating for schizophrenia remains pending.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient clarification of the medical evidence regarding the relationship between the veteran's 1966 back strain and his current degenerative disc disease. The RO is instructed to obtain a comprehensive medical review by an orthopedic specialist.

The Board has granted service connection for the veteran's residuals of a cold injury manifested by numbness in his legs, but denied service connection for arthritis of the legs, back condition and heart condition.

The Board found no evidence of a chronic lumbar spine disorder related to service, and the veteran's current condition is attributed to subsequent injuries. The claim for service connection was denied.

The Board has determined that the veteran is entitled to a 10 percent rating for his thoracolumbar back disorder prior to February 9, 2001.

The Board has granted service connection for a low back disability and increased the evaluation of the postoperative right inguinal hernia. The ratings for bilateral plantar warts and left varicocele remain noncompensable.

The Board has determined that the appellant's service-connected disabilities, including her low back and gastrointestinal conditions, are of such severity as to preclude her from obtaining or retaining substantially gainful employment. Therefore, a total disability rating based on individual unemployability is granted.

The Board has determined that the veteran's degenerative disk disease of L4-L5 with sciatica and L5-S1 is not related to his military service, and there are no compensable residuals associated with his service-connected low back contusion. Therefore, the claims for service connection and a compensable evaluation have been denied.

The Board has reopened the claim of service connection for a back disability based on new evidence submitted by the veteran, which relates to an unestablished fact necessary to substantiate the claim and raises a reasonable possibility of substantiating the claim.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for increased evaluations for ankylosing spondylitis of the lumbar spine, hypertension, and sinusitis. The low back disability was rated as 40 percent disabling since service connection was established. Hypertension is well controlled with medication but does not meet criteria for a compensable evaluation. Sinusitis symptoms do not meet criteria for a compensable evaluation.

The Board finds that the veteran's conditions, including GERD, right leg pain, and lumbar spine degenerative disc disease, are not related to his active duty service. The claims for service connection are denied.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including obtaining service records and a VA examination to determine the nature of current disabilities and their relation to service.

The veteran is seeking an increased initial disability rating for his service-connected lumbar spine condition. The Board has determined that additional development, including obtaining updated treatment records and Social Security Administration (SSA) disability benefits records, is necessary before the claim can be decided.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including a VA examination to assess the veteran's service-connected lumbar spine disorder and determine if he is unemployable due to his disability.

The Board denied the reopening of a claim for service connection for a back disorder due to lack of new and material evidence.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for increased ratings for his left knee, low back, and asthma disorders. The evidence did not support higher evaluations based on current symptomatology.

The veteran's claims for increased evaluation of hemorrhoids, service connection for PTSD, low back disorder, left wrist disorder, defective hearing, athlete's foot, urinary problems, and need for Aid and Attendance were all denied. The claim to reopen service connection for a dental condition was also denied.