Back / lumbar spine decisions — 2007

The Board denied the reopening of the claim for service connection for a lumbar spine disability due to lack of new and material evidence. The TDIU claim was also denied as the veteran has no service-connected disabilities.

The Board found that the veteran's current low back disability is not related to service, and his pre-existing scoliosis did not worsen during service. The claim for service connection was denied.

The veteran's appeal for a higher evaluation for chronic low back strain has been withdrawn, resulting in the dismissal of his case.

The VA denied the veteran's request for an initial evaluation in excess of 60 percent for his degenerative joint disease with degenerative disc disease of the lumbar spine, effective September 23, 2002.

The Board found that the veteran's lumbar and cervical spine disabilities are not related to her military service.

The veteran seeks service connection for degenerative disc disease of the lumbosacral spine with spondylosis and post laminectomy syndrome. The RO denied his claim, and the Board has ordered remand due to incomplete medical records from a private physician.

The Board found that the veteran does not have a current right knee, left knee or low back disorder and denied service connection for these conditions.

The veteran's claims for service connection and increased ratings were denied. The Board found no evidence of a current right knee disorder, and the left knee disability did not meet criteria for higher evaluations prior to or from November 2004. Headaches, lumbar spine disorder, cervical spine disorder, and peripheral neuropathy of the left hand were also evaluated without meeting criteria for increased ratings.

The Board has decided to remand the veteran's claims for further development and examination due to incomplete service records, unverified in-service stressors for PTSD, and additional medical evaluations are needed.

The Board has determined that the veteran does not have a respiratory disability, low back disability or arthritis of the hands, wrists and knees due to service. The claims are denied.

The veteran's service-connected low back strain does not meet the criteria for a higher rating, and his other service-connected conditions do not warrant compensable ratings.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for diabetes mellitus, low back disability, and bilateral knee disabilities secondary to residuals of left ankle sprain. The reasons were that there was no evidence showing these conditions were caused or worsened by his service-connected left ankle disability.

The Board has remanded the veteran's claim for service connection for a low back disorder due to insufficient evidence regarding whether his current condition is related to military service.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for diabetes mellitus, lumbago claimed as a back disorder, and whether new and material evidence has been submitted to reopen a claim of entitlement to service connection for a psychiatric disorder other than post-traumatic stress disorder. The decision also denied an earlier effective date prior to July 3, 2000, for the grant of service connection for PTSD.

The veteran's claims for service connection and special monthly compensation are being remanded due to incomplete development of his medical records.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for increased evaluations for his low back and right ankle disabilities, finding that the evidence did not warrant a rating in excess of 20 percent under the applicable diagnostic codes.

The Board has determined that new and material evidence has been submitted to reopen the claim for service connection for a low back disorder. However, the Board finds that there is no evidence of record showing a relationship between the veteran's current low back disorder and his active duty service. The right upper extremity disorder was not shown to be related to service either. Therefore, both claims are denied.

The Board has denied the veteran's claims for service connection for lumbar and cervical spine disabilities due to a lack of current disability evidence.

The veteran's service-connected chronic low back strain is currently rated at 20 percent, and the Board found that a higher rating is not warranted based on the evidence of record.

The Board dismissed the appeal due to the appellant's withdrawal of his Substantive Appeal for a rating in excess of 10 percent for polymorphous light eruption. The claim for an increased rating for lumbosacral strain remains pending and is rated at 10 percent.