Back / lumbar spine decisions — 2007

The Board denied service connection for PTSD as the evidence did not meet the diagnostic criteria for PTSD and there was no credible supporting evidence that the claimed stressors actually occurred.

The Board granted a higher initial rating for the veteran's service-connected degenerative disc disease of the lumbar spine with left nerve root irritation and confirmed an effective date of December 5, 1997.

The evidence does not support the claim that the veteran's current cervical spine, upper extremity, low back, lower extremity, or hypertension disabilities are caused by the July 1989 anterior fusion at C4-C5 performed at a VA medical facility in Temple, Texas.

The Board has granted a 60 percent rating for the veteran's lumbosacral strain with arthritis, effective from the date of his claim in January 2001.

The Board has determined that the veteran does not have a current disability for which service connection can be granted, specifically for back and pelvic bone disabilities. The claim for increased rating of migraine headaches is also denied.

The Board granted service connection for a low back disorder and assigned an initial 20 percent rating from June 13, 2001 to November 7, 2006. On and after November 8, 2006, the veteran's condition has been manifested by chronic pain but with no flare-ups and no limitation of motion.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for various conditions, finding no current disabilities and insufficient evidence to establish a link between his military service and any diagnosed conditions.

The Board denied the appellant's claims for increased evaluations for his lumbar spine, right knee, and left knee disabilities as well as a compensable evaluation for GERD. The appellant did not meet the criteria for any of these conditions.

The Board has denied the veteran's request to reopen his claim of entitlement to service connection for a low back disability, finding that new and material evidence was not submitted.

The Board denied service connection for a right foot condition, left foot condition, DJD of both knees, and DDD of the lumbar spine as there was no evidence linking these conditions to active military service.

The Board denied service connection for right supraclavicular adenopathy and granted noncompensable ratings for status post low-grade micro-epidermal carcinoma of the right retro-molar area, bilateral hearing loss. The issue of a low back disorder was remanded.

The Board found no evidence to support a compensable evaluation for the veteran's service-connected left ear hearing loss and lumbar spine degenerative disc disease L3-4 with disc bulge and stenosis.

The veteran's claim of service connection for a skin disorder has been reopened, and he is now entitled to an increased rating for his service-connected residuals of gunshot wound of the right thigh. His claim for service connection for a back disorder remains denied.

The Board has denied the petition to reopen the claim for service connection for a back disability and has also denied the claim for an increased rating for hypertension.

The Board has remanded the veteran's claims for service connection due to insufficient notice and development of records, including verification of his military service.

The veteran has withdrawn his appeal on all issues except the increased evaluation for a scar of the left shoulder.

The veteran's service-connected low back strain with scoliosis is not shown to have manifested to a degree that would warrant an initial rating in excess of 20 percent. The residuals of the stress fracture of the right leg are also not shown to be productive of related malunion or other bony deformity, and thus do not meet the criteria for a compensable rating.

The Board has determined that the veteran's back disability and disability of the legs are related to his military service, granting service connection for both conditions.

The Board denied service connection for a low back disorder and an increased rating for spastic colon, finding that the appellant's current low back disorder is not linked to his military service. The claim for herpes simplex was remanded.

The VA has determined that the veteran's lumbosacral strain disability is severe enough to warrant a 40 percent rating, which is higher than his current 20 percent rating.