Back / lumbar spine decisions — 2007

The veteran's single permanent disability (schizophrenic reaction) is rated at 100%. His other disabilities, when combined, are rated at 60%, which does not meet the requirement for special monthly pension based on need for regular aid and attendance or housebound rate.

The Board has determined that the veteran's claimed conditions, including a tumor in the spine, degenerative disc disease, bilateral hearing loss, and a nervous condition (adjustment disorder with anxiety), were not incurred or aggravated by service. The claims are denied.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for a back disorder, bilateral shoulder disorder, and sinus disorder due to lack of evidence linking these conditions to his military service.

The veteran was found to be unemployable due to her service-connected disabilities as of November 13, 2000, and the effective date for TDIU is set at August 13, 2001.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for diabetes mellitus due to herbicide exposure and an evaluation in excess of 60 percent for his service-connected low back disability.

The Board has determined that the veteran's low back condition is not related to his service and therefore denied his claim for service connection.

The veteran's claims for service connection for various conditions, including hypertension, degenerative disc disease of the lumbar spine, cervical spondylosis, osteoarthritis of the left knee, right hand disorder, left shoulder impingement, skin rash, diabetes mellitus, sarcoma, and bilateral peripheral neuropathy of the lower extremities have been denied. The Board found no evidence to support these claims.

The Board denied service connection for PTSD, major depression, schizophrenia, agoraphobia, degenerative changes in the cervical spine, degenerative disc disease of the low back, right arm pain (major), left arm pain, and left shoulder pain. The evidence did not establish a link between these conditions and military service.

The veteran's appeal is being remanded for a Travel Board hearing before the RO. The issues include service connection for onychomycosis and evaluations for lumbar strain.

The Board found no evidence of current diagnoses or service connection for PTSD, neck disorder, or low back disorder. The veteran's claims were denied as there was insufficient medical evidence to support the assertions.

The VA denied the veteran's claims for increased ratings for his service-connected right hip fracture and lumbosacral spine arthritis. The RO found that the current evaluations of 20 percent were appropriate based on the severity of the disabilities.

The veteran's PFB is currently rated at 10 percent, and his claim for compensation benefits under the provisions of 38 U.S.C.A. § 1151 for the residuals of a low back injury was denied due to lack of evidence of a chronic disability.

The Board finds that the veteran's current back and knee disorders are not related to his military service, including any incident where he jumped from a helicopter in Vietnam. The lack of contemporaneous medical evidence does not support a finding of service connection for these conditions.

The Board has granted service connection for bilateral hip disability, but denied the remaining claims as there is no current chronic acquired psychiatric disability or a chronic gynecological disability related to an endometrial polyp.

The veteran is attempting to reopen a claim for service connection of her low back disorder. The RO needs to provide proper VCAA notice and then reconsider the case.

The appeal has been dismissed as the appellant withdrew their appeal prior to a decision being made.

The Board denied service connection for a lumbar spine disorder and granted initial noncompensable ratings for residuals of lacerations to the left middle and ring fingers. The claim for reopening the previously denied back condition was also denied on the merits.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for a right leg disorder, an increased evaluation for degenerative disc disease of the lumbar spine, and a compensable evaluation for a residual scar of the right buttock. The claim for TDIU was also denied.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for increased ratings for TMJ and low back disability, finding that the evidence did not meet the criteria for a compensable rating or an increase in rating under applicable diagnostic codes.

The Board denied the veteran's claim for reopening his service connection for a low back disability, finding that no new and material evidence had been submitted to reopen the claim.