Back / lumbar spine decisions — 2006

The Board found that the veteran's familial spastic diplegia, claimed as a back disorder, was not incurred in or aggravated by service and denied his claim.

The Board has granted a 40 percent rating for chronic low back strain, the maximum available under the General Rating Formula for Diseases and Injuries of the Spine.

The Board has determined that the veteran's current lumbar strain and degenerative joint disease are not related to his service, and thus denied his claim for service connection.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for lower back disability, cervical warts, urinary tract infections, left hand disability, and chest pain as not well grounded.

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

The Board has determined that the veteran's low back and bilateral hip disorders are not related to his service, and thus denied both claims.

The Board has decided to remand the case for further development, including VA examinations and proper VCAA notice.

The Board has denied the veteran's request to reopen his claims for service connection for cervical disc disease and lumbosacral arthritis, finding that no new and material evidence has been received.

The veteran's heterotopic ossification and resultant secondary disabilities were caused by VA's negligence in providing proper care, resulting in irreversible worsening of his initial spinal cord injury.

The veteran's appeal is being remanded to the RO for a Travel Board hearing at the Waco, Texas Regional Office.

The veteran's service-connected abdominal stab wound scar is rated at 10 percent, and his low back disability (degenerative disc disease) is found to be secondary to the service-connected abdomen injury. The inguinal hernia claim was not granted.

The veteran's claim for a higher rating for his service-connected lumbar spine disability is granted, with a 40 percent evaluation effective from the date of this decision.

The Board found that the veteran's lumbar spine disorder preexisted service and was not aggravated by service, thus denying her claim for service connection.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for a cervical spine disability and increased ratings for his degenerative arthritis of the lumbar spine and right knee, finding that there was no causal relationship between his service-connected left knee disorder and his cervical spine or knee disabilities.

The VA determined that the veteran's lumbosacral spine disability, currently rated at 20 percent, does not warrant a higher rating based on current symptoms and evidence.

The veteran's PTSD is granted at a 50 percent rating from March 1, 1995 to March 18, 1999. The increased rating for dorsal and lumbar back pain remains denied.

The veteran's claims for increased ratings for his service-connected right ankle, left elbow, thoracic spine, and cervical spine disabilities have been denied as there is no evidence of more than normal range of motion or impairment.

The Board has determined that the veteran's cervical spine and low back disabilities were not incurred or aggravated during his military service. The evidence does not support a finding of direct service connection for these conditions.

The Board has determined that the veteran's low back and right knee disabilities are secondary to his service-connected left knee disability, and granted service connection for these conditions.

The Board has remanded the case for compliance with a previous directive to first adjudicate the application to reopen the claim for service connection for a low back disorder and then issue a supplemental statement of the case if the claim remains denied.